Hockey fans and commentators have questions about the National Hockey League’s specialty jersey policy after Minnesota Wild’s goaltender, Marc-Andre Fleury, decided to wear a custom mask on Native American Heritage Night to honour his wife’s heritage.
After Fleury, his hockey team, and his agent shared the unique design to X (formerly Twitter), the NHL said that wearing it would violate the league’s rules.
The custom-designed mask created by Cole Redhorse Taylor featured quotes of Fleury’s dad on the back and had the names of his children.
The NHL informed Fleury that he could not wear it during the game or during warmups.
Not only did the NHL threaten Fleury with fines, but they also threatened the Minnesota Wild with an additional significant fine.
Despite the looming threat, Fleury wore the mask in warmups. He served as a backup and did not play during the game.
On the team’s X post showcasing the helmet, fans who heard about the threat of fines urged Fleury to wear the mask.
A source told ESPN that no punishment is expected for Fleury disobeying the NHL and wearing the mask despite their multiple threats to sanction the player.
In June, the NHL implemented a new policy prohibiting teams from wearing “specialty” jerseys during warmups, practices, or games. This policy was further extended to uniforms, gear and covers themes such as Pride, military appreciation, or ethnic heritage nights.
The NHL Board of Governors unanimously approved the ban without objection from the National Hockey League Players Association. The ban followed instances where players declined to participate in Pride Night warmups last season due to personal or religious reasons.
Fleury’s mask is not the first instance against this policy this season. Previous exemptions have been made already. In October, the NHL revised its initial ban on Pride tape. The change came immediately after Arizona Coyotes defenseman Travis Dermott used Pride tape during a game. Dermott faced no punishment.
“Players will now have the option to voluntarily represent social causes with their stick tape throughout the season,” the NHL said in a statement following Dermott’s act of defiance.
Despite the league rejecting Fleury’s request to wear a mask for Native American Heritage Night, it permitted Florida Panthers’ Sergei Bobrovsky and Seattle Kraken’s Phillip Grubauer to don specialty masks for Hockey Fights Cancer nights.
ESPN reported that a source familiar with that decision said those exemptions were granted because the goalies had previously worn cancer-awareness masks prior to the ban and due to the nature of the cause they were supporting.
Conversely, Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Logan Thompson was not allowed to put a cancer ribbon on his helmet.
The NHL have been proudly advertising the claim that “Hockey is for everyone” for the last few seasons. However, given the recent decisions, one of the league’s most prominent agents, Allan Walsh questioned whether it is.
“The NHL refusing to allow Marc-Andre Fleury from wearing a custom designed mask [during] Native American Heritage Night (even in warm ups) is all you need to know about Gary Bettman’s NHL,” said Walsh, posting to X.
Veteran sports journalist Michael Farber echoed that sentiment during an interview with Mitch Melnick on TSN radio.
“You can’t say hockey’s for everybody and pull this because it clearly isn’t,” said Farber.
Farber said Fleury was one of the league’s favourite goalies and a likely hall of famer. He questioned why the NHL couldn’t have a certain amount of flexibility in this situation.
Mitch Melnick, host of Montreal 690, agreed with Farber.
“I’m shaking my head going, what is wrong with these people at the National Hockey League,” said Melnick.
Melnick explained that the NFL had a similar issue with players wearing specialty cleats. He explained that they have since come to their senses and allow players to do what they want with their cleats.
“Pushing the narrative of hockey is for everyone; this would have been a great opportunity. It’s one that not only went by the wayside but ended up getting mud splattered on the NHL logo,” said Farber.
Nathan Murdock, a sports YouTuber, and previous employee for the NHL and Sportsnet, highlighted the contradictions.
“In trying to avoid ‘controversy’, the NHL has once again embarrassed themselves,” he said.
The mask Fleury wore during warmups was put up for auction. The bid at the time of publication was $17,100.
