Sidney Crosby speaks out against the NHL's new policy

Earlier this week, the NHL effectively banned the use of rainbow colored hockey tape used to show support for Pride and the LGBTQ+ community for the upcoming 2023-24 season.

The NHL, of course, made a policy change regarding the use 'special interest' jerseys for the upcoming season banning the use of Pride jerseys, Military Appreciation jerseys, Hockey Fights Cancer jerseys and other special interest jerseys. Today's news regarding the Pride tape, however takes things to the next level.

From LGBTQ+ publisher OutSports:

Outsports has learned that the NHL has issued a league-wide ban of Pride Tape on the ice with the players during warm-ups, games and even practices. A league spokesperson has confirmed this change in policy with Outsports.

The NHL was also forced to clarify a memo sent to every team recently after some expressed confusion. The main part that had teams unsure was:

Players shall not be put in the position of having to demonstrate (or where they may be appearing to demonstrate) personal support for any Special Initiatives. A factor that may be considered in this regard includes, for example, whether a Player (or Players) is required to be in close proximity to any groups or individuals visibly or otherwise clearly associated with such Special Initiative(s).

- OutSports

Personally, I feel like this is taking things a bit far.

If a player wants to show support for a cause and they do it in a subtle way, I can't see how anyone can have a problem with it. Having rainbow tape on your stick does no harm to any one or any group... for the life of me I can't see what this policy aims to accomplish. Just more nonsense from the NHL... but what else is new?

There has been some scuttlebutt around the league that players will simply opt to use rainbow colored tape and then let the chip fall where they may. Is the NHL actually going to fine a player for showing support for Pride? Do they want that PR nightmare? I don't think so...

Yesterday Pittsburgh Penguins superstar Sidney Crosby, maybe the most respected player in the entire sport, confirmed that he'll continue to support LGBTQ+ causes regardless of the NHL's new policy.

"It's unfortunate, those nights are good opportunities to show our support for different initiatives and organizations. We'll have to find other ways, whether it be players or teams to be able to do that."

"I'll just continue to show my support," Crosby said of why he made that decision in years past. "That's basically it. I mean, everyone had the option. I chose to do that."

- Sidney Crosby

Again... can you imagine the headlines if the NHL fined Sidney Crosby for using rainbow colored tape?