Tracking Each NHL Team's Pride Night

With the regular season winding down, most teams across the NHL have hosted their annual Pride nights, dedicating one game to celebrating the LGBTQ+ community and ensuring they belong in the world of hockey. 

This is a list of what each team did for their respective Pride night this year. It is compiled using publicly available information from social media, team websites and reports, while reaching out to teams when necessary.

Some teams have yet to host their Pride night, and as such, there are fewer details based on what's been announced ahead of time. This list will be updated after each following Pride game passes. 

Anaheim Ducks

The Anaheim Ducks donned Pride-themed jerseys and rainbow stick tape during warmups on March 3 ahead of their game against the Montreal Canadians. A select number of those jerseys and sticks were auctioned off, with proceeds going toward OC Pride and You Can Play. Ducks organist Lindasy Imber collaborated on the jersey design.

Arizona Coyotes

The Arizona Coyotes wore Pride-themed jerseys and used rainbow stick tape during warmups ahead of their game against the New Jersey Devils on March 5. The player-signed jerseys were auctioned off.

Former Tempe mayor Neil Giuliano and current vice mayor of Tempe, Jennifer Adams, took part in the ceremonial puck drop as proud members of the LGBTQ+ community. In addition to selling Pride-themed merchandise to fans, Arizona hosted a Pride night patio party ahead of puck drop.

Boston Bruins

The Boston Bruins hosted a Hockey is for Everyone night on Feb. 18, 2023.

Boston’s collective show of support wasn’t just limited to warmups, with the Bruins welcoming an honorary Hockey is for Everyone lineup to the ice, which featured six hockey players who represented members of the LGBTQ+, sled hockey, Black and women’s hockey communities.

In a news release announcing the event, Brad Marchand, the team’s You Can Play ambassador, stressed the importance of spreading the word that the hockey community supports everyone.

"We're a team in the (dressing) room and a family,” Marchand said. “It doesn't matter what different beliefs guys have, or where they come from, or whatever the case may be. Guys would accept it. Again, in the room we're a family. That's the way it is on a hockey team, and that's the way it will always be."

Buffalo Sabres

The Buffalo Sabres’ Pride night on March 27 saw players wearing Pride jerseys during warmups and using Pride-themed tape. The jerseys and sticks were auctioned off to support local LGBTQ+ organizations. Pride merchandise was also made available, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting those organizations as well. The Buffalo Gay Men’s chorus performed the national anthem, too.

Defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin, a Moscow native, did not participate in warmups, citing safety concerns pertaining to Russia’s anti-LGBTQ+ law.

The Sabres released a statement before the game, saying they're "aware of general threats to certain players and understand their decision to forego risk."

“The Buffalo Sabres are proud to continue to support the LGBTQIA+ community as allies by hosting our third annual Pride night game,” the statement said. “It is of the utmost importance for us to continue to use our platform to strengthen our organizational goal of making hockey for everyone. Consistent with previous years, our team feels strongly that one way to garner support is through wearing Pride jerseys and using Pride tape in warmups.”

While Sabres captain Kyle Okposo expressed empathy for “the situation (Lybushkin) is in” when speaking to reporters after the morning skate, he acknowledged the potential harm that can be inflicted by a player opting not to partake.

“Think about if there’s a closeted gay member of a team,” Okposo said. “You have to empathy for that person.”

Calgary Flames

The Calgary Flames had their Pride night on March 28 against the Los Angeles Kings.

Calgary wore Pride-themed jerseys — the logo and pattern inside the numbers were designed by Megan Parker, a local artist who is part of the LGBTQ+ community.

The warmup jerseys were auctioned off, with proceeds benefiting the Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corporation Inclusion program.

Darryl Sutter said before the game that the whole team would wear the jerseys, and reiterated that he'd welcome a member of the LGBTQ+ community on the team. Blake Coleman also said he's proud to wear the jersey, and it shows that everyone is welcome. 

"At the end of the day, it's more about showing that we're inclusive in our locker room," Coleman said. "It's a small thing, but if it means that much to somebody else, then obviously, it's something that's important."

Carolina Hurricanes

The Carolina Hurricanes put on a Pride night for their Jan. 27 contest against the San Jose Sharks.

Although players had Pride-themed stick tape during warmups, the team did not wear a special Pride tarp during warmups. The national anthem was sung by Triangle Gay Men’s Chorus, and there were concourse locations for eight partner organizations, including the LGBT Center of Raleigh, the Human Rights Campaign, North Carolina State University GLBT Center and more.

The Hurricanes made Pride-themed pucks, shirts and hats available for purchase and served ‘Cocktails for a Cause,’ with $1 from all sales donated to the LGBT Center of Raleigh up to $10,000.

Chicago Blackhawks

The Chicago Blackhawks held a family skate for members of the Chicago Gay Hockey Association prior to the March 26 Pride night against the Vancouver Canucks. The group was also highlighted during the game, along with other local organizations and performers who are part of the LGBTQ+ community.

One of the members, local designer Andy Rogers, designed a skate logo for Pride night merchandise that showcases "the unity in hockey as a collective team sport and the bond shared regardless of orientation, race or cultural backgrounds." 

A portion of the proceeds from Chicago's Pride retail collection benefits the Chicago Blackhawks Foundation and local nonprofit organizations in the LGBTQ+ community.

Brock McGillis, the first openly gay professional hockey player, spoke to Blackhawks staff before the night, talking about how it's possible to create cultural shifts through hockey.

Chicago has had Pride jerseys in the past but did not wear ones in warmups on Pride night.

While the Blackhawks have worn Pride jerseys in the past, an article by The Athletic — which cited two unnamed team sources — revealed the decision was made by team management out of concern for Russian players on the team.

Two weeks prior to Chicago’s Pride night, defenseman Connor Murphy told The Athletic that he was confident that the team would wear the jerseys and that there was nobody on the team that he knew of that wouldn’t support it.

“We’ve been doing it for so many years, so it’s not like it’s a new subject. … It is a bit disappointing (to see around the league),” Murphy told The Athletic. “It seems like we have so many other nights, and nobody raises any issues. Hockey is about inclusion, about growing the community and the game. I don’t see why anyone would have a need to feel like they don’t support a certain group. If it’s about the game and about bringing everyone together and about equality, everyone should always be supportive of that.”

Colorado Avalanche

The Colorado Avalanche hosted their Pride night on March 5 against the Seattle Kraken.

The national anthem was performed by the Denver Women’s Chorus, which is a trans-and non-binary-inclusive chorus that features several LGBTQ+ singers. There was even a proposal!

A portion of ticket package proceeds for the game — which included a Pride-themed Avalanche T-shirt — benefited the You Can Play Program.

In a press release announcing the event, the team also encouraged fans to print signs — such as “Hockey is for Everyone” and other Pride-themed slogans and designs.

Colorado did not have Pride-themed jerseys.

Columbus Blue Jackets

The Columbus Blue Jackets’ Hockey is for Everyone night took place on Feb. 10 against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Columbus wore special warmup jerseys, and several players used Pride-themed tape.

The team auctioned off warmup-used sticks with Pride tape and autographed Hockey is for Everyone themed memorabilia, with the proceeds benefiting the Kaleidoscope Youth Center. There were also video recognitions throughout the game, representing a variety of leagues and programs.

Dallas Stars

The Dallas Stars’ Pride night took place on March 21, against the Seattle Kraken.

Dallas wore Pride-themed jerseys, and several players used Pride-themed stick tape. The warmup tarps were auctioned off with the proceeds of that, along with 50/50 proceeds, benefiting Pride Frisco and Dallas Hope Charities.

Detroit Red Wings

The Detroit Red Wings held their Pride night on Oct. 25 against the New Jersey Devils.

Detroit did not have a Pride-themed jersey, though several players used Pride-themed stick tape.

Autographed player-used warmup sticks and other memorabilia were auctioned off, with proceeds benefiting the Detroit Red Wings Foundation, in addition to local LGBTQ+ organizations. The Wings also offered a ticket package that came with a limited-edition Red Wings Pride hat.

Edmonton Oilers

The Edmonton Oilers held their Pride night on March 25 against the Vegas Golden Knights.

On top of donating the proceeds from 50/50 sales and autographed warmup sticks to MacEwan University's Centre for Sexual and Gender Diversity (CSGD), The Oilers' Pride night celebrated community leaders with respect to diversity, inclusion and the 2SLGBTQ+ communities. The Oilers installed a series of information booths on the concourse, where fans could learn more about Pride Tape, the CSGD and other initiatives.

Edmonton did not have Pride-themed jerseys in warmup, but the players taped their sticks with Pride-themed tape.

“I feel very strongly that hockey needs to be inclusive — and include everybody,” McDavid said.