Key takeaways:
- Ivan Provorov cited his Russian Orthodox religion as the reason he did not take part in the pregame skate with his teammates on Pride Night.
- Provorov was quick to point out that he was not trying to make a statement or be disrespectful.
- Flyers coach John Tortorella respected Provorov’s decision and said it was important to respect each other’s beliefs and choices.
Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Ivan Provorov spoke to the media after not participating in pregame warm-ups on Tuesday night, which was the team’s annual Pride Night in celebration and support of the LGBTQ+ community.
Provorov, 26, cited his Russian Orthodox religion as the reason he did not take part in the pregame skate with his teammates, who were wearing rainbow-themed warmup jerseys.
“I respect everybody’s choices,” Provorov said after the game, which the Flyers won 5-2. “My choice is to stay true to myself and my religion.”
The decision to not participate in the Pride Night festivities was met with some criticism from fans, but Provorov was quick to point out that he was not trying to make a statement or be disrespectful.
“I’m not trying to offend anybody,” he said. “I’m just trying to stay true to myself and my religion.”
Flyers coach John Tortorella did not bench Provorov for his decision, and said he respected the player’s choice.
“Ivan is a great teammate and a great person,” Tortorella said. “I respect his decision and I think it’s important that we all respect each other’s beliefs and choices.”
The Flyers have held their annual Pride Night since 2018, and Provorov’s decision to not participate is the first of its kind. Despite the controversy, Provorov said he was happy to be part of the team’s victory.
“It was a great team win,” he said. “I’m just glad I could be part of it.”
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