NHL reverses course and LIFTS the ban on Pride Tape following player pushback and protest in a win for the LGBTQ+ community in sports

The NHL is reversing course and lifting a ban that it instituted just two weeks ago that prohibited players from using stick tape that is rainbow-colored.

In a statement, the NHL said, 'After consultation with the NHL Player's Association and the NHL Player Inclusion Coalition, Players will now have the option to voluntarily represent social causes with their stick tape throughout the season.' 

Since the ban was announced, a number of players and other organizations spoke out against the rule.

One player, Coyotes defenseman Travis Dermott, already flouted the league's ban and used the tape in a game.

This rule was instituted after seven players of the 1,058 who touched NHL ice in the 2022-23 season - a minority of only 0.6 percent - publicly objected to the wearing of Pride jerseys for warmups or using rainbow-colored stick tape. 

The NHL will 'lift a ban on rainbow-colored Pride Tape', according to reports from Canada

Players pushed back against the ban - with one, Travis Dermott - using it in defiance of the ban

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman announced a warm-up jersey ban earlier this year

Earlier this year, the league announced a total and complete ban on so-called 'Special Initiative' warm-up jerseys. Not only does that include Pride Night jerseys, but it also bans warmups for Military Appreciation Night and Hockey Fights Cancer Night among others.

Both the decision banning the jerseys and the decision to ban the tape were scorned by many of the league's top players, irate that the choice of just seven players was responsible for all of this.

The backlash was so prominent that the company that makes Pride Tape reported that it received a massive influx of orders - including from some NHL players. 

Following the announcement of the tape ban, multiple players spoke out against it - with some pledging to ignore the rule entirely. 

Connor McDavid, the league's top player for a number of years, said he wished the decision would eventually be overturned.

'In terms of a league standpoint, is it something that I'd like to see put back into place one day? Certainly. You know, but that's not the way it is right now. I've commented on this before. I think everyone knows how I feel,' the Edmonton Oilers captain said.

That decision also banned Hockey Fights Cancer (L) and Military Appreciation (R) warmups

Some players planned to use the product regardless of the ban (seen: Boston's Linus Ullmark)

A number of the league's top players, including Connor McDavid (above) despised the ban 

Morgan Reilly, the top defenseman on the Toronto Maple Leafs said, 'I wish players had the right to do more and be more involved... I'm going to continue to be involved in the community and offer support to those communities and those groups that want that.'

Philadelphia Flyers alternate captain Scott Laughton was openly defiant when he said, 'You'll probably see me with the Pride Tape on that night anyway... If they want to say something they can.'

Jon Merrill, a defenseman on the Minnesota Wild, also took a more direct approach in his criticism.

'If anyone does it, what is the league going to do? Take me off the ice? Give me a penalty? Then you look bad as a league. I don't know. It's upsetting. Just disappointing,' Merrill said.

He added, 'You don't want to be a distraction for the team, but I can't see how that would be a distraction for anyone if you wear the tape for 15 minutes of warmups. It just doesn't make sense to me.'

Toronto's Morgan Reilly (44): 'I wish players had the right to do more and be more involved'

Minnesota's Jon Merrill: 'What is the league going to do? Take me off the ice?'

Philadelphia's Scott Laughton: 'You'll probably see me with the Pride Tape on anyway'

Merrill's challenge was put into practice on Saturday - when Arizona Coyotes defenseman Travis Dermott used the tape on his stick in a game against the Anaheim Ducks.

'You want to have everyone feel included and that's something that I have felt passionate about for a long time in my career. It's not like I just just jumped on this train. 

'It's something that I've felt has been lacking in the hockey community for a while. I feel like we need supporters of a movement like this; to have everyone feel included and really to beat home the idea that hockey is for everyone.'

Dermott has long shown support for LGBTQ+ inclusion and the recent moves by the league have upset him at times. 

He said that he received support from not just family and friends, but players, media members and other prominent LGBTQ+ supporters in hockey - like longtime executive Brian Burke, who launched the 'You Can Play' project to combat homophobia in sports.

Dermott became the first (and now only) player to defy a league rule banning the tape's use

Dermott got league-wide support including from league executive Brian Burke - one of the founders of the 'You Can Play' project, which aims to tackle homophobia in sports

The Coyotes organization also supported Dermott (CEO Xavier Gutierrez, L, Shane Doan, R)

Other organizations were against this decision from the league since its announcement.

One of Canada's five largest banks, Scotiabank, announced Monday that they planned to give away 5,000 rolls of Pride Tape at branches across the country.

In a statement at the time of the ban, 'You Can Play' said, 'Making decisions to eradicate our visibility in hockey - by eliminating symbols like jerseys and now Pride Tape - immediately stunts the impact of bringing in more diverse fans and players into the sport.' 

Since the reversal of the ban was announced, You Can Play released another statement saying, in part, 'We appreciate every person, team and organization that made their voice heard to support this change, and appreciate the NHL's willingness to listen and make the right choice.'

The company behind Pride Tape also released a statement after the reversal, saying, 'We are so very grateful to everyone who believes hockey should be a safe, inclusive, and welcoming space for all. 

'We are extremely happy that NHL players will now have the option to voluntarily represent important social causes with their stick tape throughout season.'

The NHL remains the last major North American sports league that has not had a current or former player or coach come out as part of the LGBTQ+ community.