NHL teams shamefully hiding behind players like James Reimer

Sharks goalie James Reimer became the latest in a growing list of NHL players who have opted not to wear special Pride jerseys but on the latest episode of Zone Time, Sam Chang says that teams must stop hiding behind players when these decisions are made.

Video Transcript

SAM CHANG: I guess it's not so much disappointing, as it is like, I think I was just unsurprised. I'm more surprised that frankly, it took someone this long to just come out and say it. I thought what was more interesting was the Sharks approach of, I would have expected their PR team to be like, he's not available, and just not kind of acknowledge the situation.

But they basically just were like, here, go hang yourself with some rope, and just let him keep talking, which I thought was an interesting approach. I'm not sure that it was the wrong approach. You know, I think it probably cuts both ways.

It's, I think it runs counter to the objectives of Pride Night for him to be able to make those statements, which, frankly, I think there have been, I think every person on this show was raised with religion, if not still practicing.

JULIAN MCKENZIE: Right.

SAM CHANG: And I think we can all acknowledge that you can be religious and inclusive. Like, frankly, a cohesive reading of the "New Testament," not to get into theology, would suggest that you shouldn't be the one casting the stone or making the judgment.

But leaving that aside, I think it was, it's a pity that fans had to hear that from him on Pride Night, in a Pride Night where I think the Sharks otherwise did a fantastic job.

OMAR: Yeah.

SAM CHANG: Your social media account did a great deal of work in tweeting educational facts throughout the night. The jersey that was designed by your fan was I thought, incredible. Loved the big trans shark. And I thought it really, it was a shame that it overshadowed the night.

But at the same time, I'm not sure that the way teams have approached it where they just don't wear the jerseys at all and just hide behind, oh, some players aren't comfortable with it, so we're going to do it. I don't think that's the right decision either.

I actually think, you know what? If you want to make that choice, if you want to show yourself as not an ally, if you want to put yourself out there with this like, sorry to swear on the show, but this bullshit that you love people, but you don't endorse their lifestyle, which frankly, doesn't make a lot of sense, come out and say it. Own it. Own it, and let people, you know, people are free to then have their opinions about you as a person.

My last thought on that was, I thought it was particularly egregious that he then tried to give the excuse of, well, I have a Muslim friend and he would understand if I didn't wear a Muslim jersey.

JULIAN MCKENZIE: Oh!

SAM CHANG: And like, just pull Nazem Kadri into it. Like, I thought that was repulsive.