PHILADELPHIA — Flyers defenseman Ivan Provorov cited his Russian Orthodox faith as the explanation he didn’t take part in pregame warmups when the group wore Pride-themed jerseys and used sticks wrapped in rainbow Pride tape.
The 26-year-old Provorov boycotted the pregame skate along with his teammates earlier than Tuesday evening’s sport towards Anaheim because the Flyers celebrated their annual Pride evening in celebration and help of the LGBTQ+ neighborhood. He performed practically 23 minutes in Philadelphia’s 5-2 victory.
“I respect everybody’s choices,” Provorov stated after the sport. “My choice is to stay true to myself and my religion. That’s all I’m going to say.”
Bruce Bennett by way of Getty Images
Provorov declined to reply follow-up questions on his choice.
Flyers coach John Tortorella stated Provorov “was true to himself and to his religion.”
“It’s one thing I respect about Provy, he’s always true to himself,” Tortorella stated.
Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill, chief of Russia’s dominant non secular group, despatched a robust sign final March justifying his nation’s invasion of Ukraine — describing the battle as a part of a wrestle towards sin and stress from liberal foreigners to carry “gay parades” as the value of admission to their ranks.
The jerseys and sticks had been set to be auctioned off by the Flyers following the sport, with proceeds going to the group’s charity and its efforts to develop the sport of hockey in various communities.
The Flyers additionally hosted a pregame skate for native LGBTQ+ youth. Flyers gamers James van Riemsdyk and Scott Laughton have been staunch supporters of the neighborhood and launched a program in help of native LGBTQ+ youth within the larger Philadelphia space.
Laughton and van Riemsdyk met after the sport with about 50 individuals within the LGBTQ+ neighborhood. Laughton stated total the Flyers had a “great, great night that brings a lot of awareness.”
Laughton stated there could be extra conversations forward with Provorov, who moved from Russia to the United States as a young person. He signed a six-year, $40.5 million contract earlier than the 2019 season and received the Barry Ashbee Trophy because the Flyers’ excellent defenseman in his rookie season, the youngest Philadelphia participant to obtain the glory.
“I don’t hold anything against anyone,” Laughton stated. “It’s nothing like that. It was an awesome night and I’m very happy we got a win on a night like this.”
