National Hockey League (NHL) teams will not wear specialty jerseys for pregame warmups during themed nights next season because it has become a “distraction” this past season, a top league official confirmed on Thursday.
During an interview with Sportsnet after concluding a meeting with the league’s board of governors in New York, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said players will no longer wear special warmup jerseys—such as rainbow jerseys on “pride nights.”
The development comes after the NHL recently dealt with controversies from players sitting out the pride-themed event over religious beliefs and personal security.
“I’ve suggested that it would be appropriate for clubs not to change their jerseys in warmups because it’s become a distraction, and taking away from the fact that all of our clubs in some form or another host nights in honor of various groups or causes. And we rather them continue to get the appropriate attention that they deserve and not be a distraction,” Bettman said….