Jets successfully celebrate Pride night, in year that sees plenty of conversation around league event
Posted April 6, 2023 3:58 pm.
Last Updated April 7, 2023 11:15 am.
The Winnipeg Jets celebrated their fifth pride night here at CanadaLife Centre Wednesday night. Although the Jets lost a crucial game, it was a big win for the 2SLGBTQ+ community.
Every Jets player sported their pride jerseys during warmup, and the fans were decked out in rainbow colours, as the game between the Winnipeg Jets and Calgary Flames was a night to recognize inclusion and diversity.
Winnipeg Jets Pride jersey. (Photo Credit: Sportsnet)
“It’s just really important for folks to show their support on nights like this and every day,” explained Jenn Rands, vice president of community engagement with Pride Winnipeg.
“Pride nights like this and having the full support of organizations such as the Winnipeg Jets is incredibly important.”
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Rands coordinated the Jets Pride Night. She says in the past, a sport like hockey has not been a very inclusive environment, especially when it comes to those in the 2SLGBTQ+ community.
“Visibility is everything. Promoting inclusion and diversity in sport is something that I personally believe in and Pride Winnipeg as an organization feels is very important.”
Inclusion in the NHL has been the subject of some controversy in 2023. This season, three NHL teams, the Chicago Blackhawks, New York Rangers and Minnesota Wild, decided not to wear Pride rainbow warmup jerseys.
Winnipeg Jets Pride jersey. (Photo Credit: Winnipeg Jets)
Russian-born Ivan Provorov, Manitoban James Reimer, and Canadian brothers Eric and Marc Staal all cited religious beliefs for not partaking in their teams pride nights. Ilya Lyubushkin said he did not participate because of the anti-LGBTQ+ laws in Russia and Vancouver Canuck forward Andrei Kuzmenko, who also is Russian, decided not to partake after discussions with his family.
“It’s definitely unfortunate that we seem to be moving backwards and when it comes to rights.”
During Sportsnet’s broadcast of the game, reporter Sean Reynolds and the team wore pride ties to show their support.
“I want to make sure that people feel free that if they feel inclusion is high on their list, that they are voicing that loudly and proudly,” said Reynolds.
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said the league will decide in the off-season about how it handles pride nights moving forward. Reynolds says he hopes the real reason for pride night doesn’t get overshadowed.
Winnipeg Jets Pride jersey. (Photo Credit: Winnipeg Jets)
“The one thing I don’t want to see come from this, in the expression of free speech by everyone, is that people feel a little less likely to share the message that they feel people should be included. I think that is something that may have got lost a little bit.”
Rands wants to stress that the 2SLGBTQ+ communities fight for equality is not politics, but a human right.
“We just want to be included and be able to live our lives just the same as everyone else.”
