Oilers proud to use Pride Tape again
The Edmonton Oilers will continue another proud tradition during the pre-game warm-up Tuesday when they wrap their sticks in Pride Tape.
The show of support for the gay and lesbian community runs in conjunction with You Can Play Night, dedicated to celebrating and promoting diversity and inclusion in hockey.
“The Oilers are reaffirming that the official position of our game is one of inclusion,” Oilers Entertainment Group vice-chairman Kevin Lowe said at a media conference Monday. “On the ice, in our locker-rooms and in the stands.”
The Oilers were the first and only team in the NHL to use Pride Tape (which was created in Edmonton) last season, but the movement has now spread to 20 teams around the NHL.
Former Oilers captain Andrew Ference, who was at the forefront of the Oilers involvement, is glad to see progress and acceptance filtering through the league.
“It makes me extremely proud that this is my sport,” said Ference, who was the first captain of any major North American profes- sional sport to officially march in a Pride Parade. With Ference no longer playing for the Oilers, the club approached Matt Hendricks to be the new ambassador for the You Can Play cause and he didn’t hesitate to accept.
“I was more than happy,” he said. “It means so much to the guys in the room, the ability to be comfortable in your own skin and how far we’ve come. It’s important for the community to keep growing that direction.”
You Can Play, founded by Patrick Burke, is about acceptance of everyone, which is a message they all agree with.
“Absolutely,” said Hendricks. “It’s not just about gays and lesbians. Women can play as much as we can, we have African-Americans and people of colour, it’s just as important for them to play. It gives us a great panel to talk about it and make it better in our community.”