Satisfaction Evening is interrupted by the pilots Ivan Provorov, citing faith

Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Ivan Provorov He didn’t take his curler skates on Tuesday night time as a result of he refused to put on a heat LGBTQ+ Satisfaction Evening group jersey, citing his spiritual beliefs.

Provorov, 26, instructed reporters after the Flyers beat the Anaheim Geese 5-2 at residence that his selection was “to stay true to myself and my faith,” which he described as Russian Orthodox.

“I respect everybody. I respect everybody’s decisions,” he mentioned.

Previous to the sport, the Flyers wore Satisfaction-themed jerseys and used sticks wrapped in rainbow ribbon, each of that are being auctioned by Flyers Charities with proceeds going towards their efforts to develop the sport in various communities.

Provorov was the one Flyers participant who didn’t have a jersey or stick for public sale after the sport.

The Flyers launched an announcement previous to Provorov’s post-game feedback:

“The Philadelphia Flyers are dedicated to inclusivity and proud to assist the LGBTQ+ group. Lots of our gamers are lively in supporting native LGBTQ+ organizations, and we’re proud to host our annual Satisfaction Evening once more this yr. The Flyers will proceed to be sturdy advocates for inclusivity and the LGBTQ+ group.”

The NHL didn’t launch an announcement on the matter as of Tuesday night time.

John Tortorella, the Flyers’ coach, mentioned he thought nothing of scratching Provorov for not warming up.

“With Provy, he’s being true to himself and his faith,” mentioned the first-year Flyers coach. “That has to do along with his religion and his faith. It’s one thing I respect about Provy: He’s at all times true to himself. That’s the place we’re with that.”

Tortorella has made headlines earlier than about his stance on pre-game protests. In 2016, he mentioned that any of his gamers who didn’t stand as much as the nationwide anthem would stay on the bench for the remainder of the sport. He reversed this stance after witnessing racial injustice protests in 2020, saying he would now not punish gamers who protested earlier than the match.

“I hope that if a participant needs to protest in the course of the nationwide anthem, he’ll convey it to me and we’ll speak about it, inform me his concepts and what he needs to do. From there, we’ll convey it to the Athletic,” Tortorella instructed the Athletic on the time.

Messages to You Can Play, a social activism marketing campaign that has partnered with the NHL since 2013, and the Philadelphia Falcons, an LGBTQ+ soccer program that was the Flyers’ invited visitor on the sport, weren’t introduced again.

Satisfaction occasions are a part of the NHL and NHLPA’s year-round “Hockey for All” initiative.

“For greater than a decade, the NHL has ramped up its efforts to indicate its assist year-round on and off the ice for the LGBTQ+ group,” Kim Davis, NHL Senior Government Vice President, mentioned throughout Satisfaction Month in 2022.

The Flyers have supported the LGBTQ+ group for years. The mascot, Gritty, is known for collaborating within the Philadelphia Satisfaction parade.