As NHL Pride Nights Become Less Consistent, the Washington Capitals Keep Celebrating - Washingtonian

"In the summer of 2023, the NHL announced its players would no longer wear special warmup jerseys on theme nights celebrating groups such as the military and the LGBTQ+ community. At the start of the 2023-24 season, the league clarified that Pride Tape, first used by the Edmonton Oilers in 2016 and later sold by the NHL's official shop, was also banned."

"Public pushback from some players led the league to quickly rescind the Pride Tape ban. Since then, NHL Pride Nights have grown less consistent. While the majority of the league's teams continue to hold them, the Carolina Hurricanes and Boston Bruins have rebranded their events as "Hockey Is For Everyone Night," while the Los Angeles Kings and Utah Mammoths have moved away from Pride-specific celebrations altogether."

"This seeming retrenchment is happening amid broader national debates over diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and Trump administration efforts to DEI programs and initiatives in the public and private sectors, including slashing funding for LGBTQ+ health research and taking down a rainbow flag at Stonewall National Monument. In August 2025, President Donald Trump appointed NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman to the President's Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition ."

The Washington Capitals hosted a Pride Night with music and players warming up with hockey sticks wrapped in rainbow-colored Pride Tape. In summer 2023 the NHL banned special warmup jerseys for themed nights and initially clarified that Pride Tape would be banned for the 2023-24 season. Public pushback from players prompted the league to rescind the Pride Tape ban. Since then Pride Nights have become less consistent, with the Carolina Hurricanes and Boston Bruins rebranding events and the Los Angeles Kings and Utah Mammoths moving away from Pride-specific celebrations. These shifts occur amid national debates over DEI and Trump administration actions affecting LGBTQ+ initiatives.

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