Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Ivan Provorov took a stand against violating his deeply held religious beliefs, and now fans are taking a stand behind this courageous athlete.
Provorov declined to participate in pregame warmups before a recent matchup with the Anaheim Ducks. His reason? Players wore Pride-themed jerseys and warmed up with hockey sticks adorned with rainbow Pride tape.
After the game, which was won by the Flyers, Provorov told reporters that he respects everyone and their right to make their own choices. He added that “my choice is to stay true to myself and my religion.”
Even as the Russian player withstood a firestorm of controversy, his jerseys have flown off shelves and out of the inventories of online retailers. At the last report, the only Provorov jerseys available in the official NHL shop and partner Fanatics are extra smalls.
Both websites list his jerseys as “almost gone.”
Ivan Provorov’s Jerseys Sell Out Online After He Opted Out of ‘Pride’ Event https://t.co/5mkaJRXn63
— Conservative Brief (@ConservBrief) January 20, 2023
Multiple calls rained down for Provorov to undergo “sensitivity training” while claiming he was just not enlightened enough to make a proper choice on Pride Night.
Canadian sports commentator Sid Seixeiro blasted the Philadelphia defenseman by proclaiming “nothing scares me more than any human being who says ‘I’m doing this because of my religious beliefs.’”
The pundit lamented the possibility that the NHL would back off the situation because of being fed “the religious beliefs line.”
Even worse, NHL Network senior reporter EJ Hradek apparently went after Provorov for his ethnic background. The player immigrated to the U.S. as a child, but that did not stop Hradek from questioning if he wished to “assimilate” into U.S. sports culture.
The reporter shockingly said “if it bothers you that much, there’s always a chance to leave, go back to where you feel more comfortable — I understand there’s a conflict of sorts going on over there, maybe get involved.”
The left will not be satisfied until every knee bows and every dissenting opinion is squashed. Provorov wearing or not wearing a Pride-themed jersey has nothing to do with his hockey skills, and at last check freedom of religion is still included in the Bill of Rights.
