At least one Canucks player won鈥檛 be wearing a themed warm-up jersey when Vancouver holds its annual Pride night on Friday.
Coach Rick Tocchet said that, after discussions with his family, Russian winger Andrei Kuzmenko has opted not to don the special uniform ahead of the home game against the Calgary Flames.
鈥淚鈥檓 not going to get into it because we don鈥檛 know the deals that happen over there. So I respect his decision,鈥� Tocchet said.
Kuzmenko, 27, has become a fan favourite in his first NHL season due to his wide smile and outgoing personality.
He has 37 goals and 31 assists in 73 games, and leads the Canucks in goals.
Some of his teammates have publicly committed to wearing the jerseys, designed by local artist Christin Hryc. The main crest features a rainbow and flowers across the Canucks鈥� orca logo, and rainbow patches on the shoulders.
鈥淚 think everyone in this room is looking forward to it,鈥� defenceman Quinn Hughes said Wednesday. 鈥淎nd I know in our organization, everyone鈥檚 welcome.
鈥淓very time we鈥檝e done Pride night, I鈥檝e worn the jersey and celebrated the night.鈥�
Star centre Elias Pettersson said Friday that he, too, is in support of the annual event.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 important to show that everyone is welcome here,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd I鈥檒l wear the jersey tonight.鈥�
Vancouver has a number of other initiatives planned for Friday, including a pre-game drag show outside Rogers Arena and in-game performances. A $20,000 donation is also being made to QMUNITY, a Vancouver non-profit that supports LGBTQ people and their allies.
Kuzmenko joins a handful of NHL players who鈥檝e declined to wear Pride jerseys this season, including Philadelphia Flyers defenceman Ivan Provorov, San Jose Sharks goalie James Reimer, Eric and Marc Staal of the Florida Panthers, and Buffalo Sabres blue liner Ilya Lyubushkin.
Whether a player wears the themed jersey comes down to individual rights, new NHLPA executive director Marty Walsh said in Toronto on Thursday.
鈥淭he LGBTQ community shouldn鈥檛 feel that the NHL hockey players are turning their back on that community. The majority of the players have worn the jersey,鈥� said Walsh, who has been a strong advocate for LGBTQ rights during his political career.
He added that the league will likely have more conversations about the issue moving forward.
鈥淏ut I think it鈥檚 really important that as a league and as locker rooms, we鈥檙e inclusive and that we support all people鈥檚 right to support the game,鈥� Walsh said.
鈥擥emma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press
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