The Toronto Maple Leafs held the team’s annual Pride night celebration Tuesday — minus themed warmup jerseys.
Players sported Pride decals on their helmets and many used rainbow stick tape during the pre-game skate before taking on the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Russian goaltender Ilya Samsonov, however, didn’t wear the decal on the back of his mask.
The Leafs have held Pride nights in support of the LGBTQ+ community since 2017, but have never sported special warmup jerseys.
The team had a number of Pride-related events planned throughout Tuesday, including a live drag show set to Canadian music icon Shania Twain’s song “Man! I Feel Like A Woman!” shown on the Scotiabank Arena scoreboard before players hit the ice.
A small group of NHLers have declined to wear Pride warmup jerseys this season, including Philadelphia Flyers defenceman Ivan Provorov, Vancouver Canucks forward Andrei Kuzmenko, San Jose Sharks goalie James Reimer, Eric and Marc Staal of the Florida Panthers, and Buffalo Sabres blueliner Ilya Lyubushkin.
WATCH | Handful of NHLers object to wearing Pride-themed jerseys:
Canadian NHL players Mark and Eric Staal are the latest to join a handful of others who are refusing to wear Pride-themed warm-up jerseys in support of the LGBTQ community. It’s ignited a debate over inclusivity and personal freedom in pro-hockey.
Some teams have altered or cancelled plans surrounding similar events.
Samsonov didn’t speak to reporters before the game about his decision, but a Russian law restricts “propaganda” about LGBTQ+ people, including in advertising, media and the arts.
Toronto players and head coach Sheldon Keefe donned rainbow-themed T-shirts during a Tuesday morning media availability.
Leafs defenceman Morgan Rielly has marched in Toronto’s Pride parade along with general manager Kyle Dubas and team president Brendan Shanahan in the past.
“The belief within the organization has always been there in terms of including people and having our team be a place where everybody’s welcome and safe,” Rielly said. “Whether you wear jerseys or not, I believe actions speak louder than words.
“And especially speak louder than attire.”
Leafs summon Woll from AHL
Maple Leafs goalie Matt Murray is listed day-to-day with a head injury, Keefe said Tuesday.
Murray left Sunday’s loss to the Red Wings after appearing to hit his head on the ice when Detroit forward Lucas Raymond slipped and fell into the back of the netminder’s legs, causing Murray to fall backwards.
The 28-year-old Murray has struggled to stay healthy in his first season since being acquired from the Ottawa Senators.
“It would be difficult to put a timeline on it before we give him more time to settle,” Keefe said Tuesday morning of Murray’s status. “He’s got a head injury; he’s got some other stuff as well.”
Murray, who missed significant time earlier in the schedule with groin and ankle injuries, is 14-8-2 with one shutout, .903 save percentage and 3.01 goals-against average in 26 appearances this season.
Prior to departing Sunday’s game against Detroit, he had allowed four goals against in seven of his last eight appearances.
With Murray out, the Leafs recalled Joseph Woll from the American Hockey League’s Toronto Marlies on an emergency basis.
The 24-year-old rookie has played four games with the Leafs this season, going 3-1-0 with a .934 save percentage and a 2.03 GAA.
Expected to make the ninth NHL start of his career Tuesday against Columbus, Woll is 16-4-1 with a .927 save percentage and 2.37 GAA this season with the Marlies.
“He’s been great,”Rielly said. “He’s been playing really good hockey. He’s a guy who loves coming to the rink. He works hard.
“He’s played outstanding.”
The Leafs also loaned forward Radim Zohorna, who played his first two games with the team over the weekend, back to the AHL.
Toronto is locked into a first-round playoff rematch with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Toronto fell to its Atlantic Division rival last spring in seven games and hasn’t advanced in the post-season since 2004.
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