Regardless of potential self-discipline from the NHL, Minnesota Wild goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury selected to honor his spouse and her household throughout warmups on Native American Heritage Night time. Fleury wore a particular Native American Heritage masks earlier than the sport, placing him in violation of the league’s new coverage in opposition to sporting something that promotes “particular initiatives.”
Hours earlier than the sport, Michael Russo of The Athletic reported Fleury would not be allowed to wear the mask in warmups. Fleury initially deliberate to defy the league’s orders, however Fleury’s agent, Allan Walsh, posted on social media that the NHL threatened “an additional significant fine.”
That put Fleury in a troublesome place, however when the time got here for warmups previous to the Wild’s house sport in opposition to the Colorado Avalanche, Fleury took the ice in his customized masks.
Fleury primarily referred to as the NHL’s bluff, and it could have paid off for him. In a follow-up report, Russo mentioned it was unlikely Fleury could be disciplined for selecting to put on his Native American Heritage masks in warmups.
The masks, which was designed by a member of the Prairie Island Indian Neighborhood, paid tribute to his spouse’s indigenous ancestry. After sporting it within the pregame skate, Fleury autographed the masks and put it up for public sale with proceeds going to the Minnesota Wild Basis and the American Indian Household Heart. The present bid is $15,500, and bidding ends on Nov. 30.
This saga comes shortly after the NHL despatched out a number of memos concerning themed nights to each staff within the offseason. Underneath the league’s new coverage, gamers can not put on particular jerseys or gear in warmups.
After final 12 months’s controversies stemming from a number of groups and gamers not collaborating in particular Pleasure Night time warmups, Bettman mentioned the difficulty had turn out to be a “distraction from the essence of what the needs of those nights are.”
Initially, the brand new rule included gamers utilizing Pleasure Tape on their sticks throughout warmups and video games, however the NHL reversed course on that call when Arizona Coyotes defenseman Travis Dermott wore the tape anyway in a sport in opposition to the Anaheim Geese.
