The National Hockey League’s recent “pride nights” have not occurred without controversies stemming from concerns over religious beliefs and personal security, and it’s possible the NHL may not have pride nights next season and beyond.
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman told CTV News in Ottawa on March 27 that after the current season ends, the league will evaluate pride nights due to some players’ refusal to participate for personal reasons.
“This is the first time we’ve experienced that, and I think it’s something that we’re going to have to evaluate in the offseason,” Bettman said.
He acknowledged that pride nights have “become more of a distraction now, because the substance of what our teams and we have been doing and stand for is really being pushed to the side for what is a handful of players basically have made personal decisions, and you have to respect that as well.”…