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Travis Dermott discloses reason behind defying NHL's Pride Tape ban
Arizona Coyotes defenseman Travis Dermott has revealed the motivation behind his decision to defy the NHL's ban on Pride Tape, a symbolic display of support for the LGBTQ+ community. In a recent game against the Anaheim Ducks, Dermott made a bold statement by adorning his stick's knob with Pride Tape, despite the league's controversial prohibition on the product.
Dermott's act of defiance was met with widespread applause from the hockey world and the LGBTQ+ community, underlining the importance of inclusivity in the sport. Speaking about his decision, Dermott acknowledged the risks involved in challenging the league's rules, especially given his status as a "fringe" NHL player on a two-way contract.
He explained to gophnx.com's Craig Morgan,
"You don't really want to go against rules that are put in place by your employer, but there's some people who took some positive things from it. That's kind of what I'm looking to impact."
Travis Dermott added,
"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 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."
He also reflected on the challenges he faced, saying,
"I definitely went through some emotional ups and downs that night, not regretting anything by any means, but I'd love to have maybe done a couple of steps a little different by making sure that everyone was aware of what was going on before I did it."
Dermott expressed his desire not to put his teammates, coaches, or the league in a bad light and is prepared to face any repercussions the league may impose.
The NHL's ban on Pride Tape is an extension of a controversial decision to eliminate special warm-up jerseys for themed nights, including Pride, Military Appreciation and Hockey Fights Cancer.
As of now, the NHL has not yet made a decision regarding any potential disciplinary action against Travis Dermott for his act of defiance.
Travis Dermott's Slow Start with Arizona Coyotes
Travis Dermott's season with the Arizona Coyotes has seen a slow start, with the defenseman playing in five games and yet to register a point. Despite logging significant ice time, he's struggled to make an impact on the scoresheet. In those five games, he's posted 0 goals and 0 assists. Dermott will be looking to turn his season around and contribute to his team's success as the season progresses.
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