The Edmonton Oilers will host a pride themed night next season

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Joshua Deeds
July 29, 2023 (10:09 PM)

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The Edmonton Oilers have recently unveiled their schedule for the upcoming 2023-2024 season. A noteworthy event will be the Pride Theme Night, taking place in January 2018. This game will see the Oilers competing against the Seattle Kraken from the Pacific Division.

Interestingly, the NHL teams will not be wearing specialty warmup jerseys on this occasion, as they have previously done.

This decision was made after some players received negative attention due to their stance on wearing these jerseys, which was opposed by Connor McDavid. At present, there are no details on what the Oilers will do instead of the warmups.

«I certainly can't speak for every organization. I know in Edmonton, we were one of the first teams to use the Pride Tape,» McDavid said at the time. «I know in Edmonton, in our dressing room, we strongly feel hockey is for everybody, and that includes Pride nights and stuff like that. Of course, it's disappointing to see. With that being said, that's certainly way above my decision. It's not my call, but it's disappointing to see.

«Everyone has their beliefs. I can't speak on those. All I can speak for is myself and us in Edmonton, and I know we strongly support those types of nights.»

Along with Pride Night, the team will also be hosting other special events to honor various communities.

These include Hockey Fights Cancer Night, Indigenous Celebration Night, a night honoring the Canadian Armed Forces, Black History Night, a night dedicated to South Asian Communities, and Ukrainian Heritage Night, which will include a Lunar New Year celebration.

The Oilers are making an extra effort to include all communities involved in the NHL fandom, and they should be applauded for their inclusivity.

As Seen On: dailyhive.com