'Our Players Are All On Board:' Preds Show a United Front on Pride Night

A sea of rainbow colors spilled onto the ice at Bridgestone Arena as the Nashville Predators skated out for warmups ahead of Tuesday's game against the Vegas Golden Knights.
In celebration of the team's eighth annual Pride Night, every single Preds player took the ice clad in
custom jerseys designed by local artist Landon Matney
, a member of the LGBTQIA+ community. Tying in historical undertones of both the Predators and gay rights activism in the United States, the thoughtfully designed sweaters offer a message of love, inclusion and acceptance.

"All the players will be wearing the jerseys," Head Coach John Hynes said before Tuesday's game. "It's something that we've talked about as an organization, and we believe we're an inclusive organization and truly believe that hockey is a safe place for everybody. It's something that our players are all on board with, and [they] want to represent everyone involved, from the organization to people outside the organization."

The Predators also issued the following statement on their social media platforms on Tuesday:
"From the players and coaches to management and staff, everyone in the Predators locker room and throughout the organization truly believe that Hockey Is For Everyone. We aim to foster a safe, positive, inclusive environment that brings the community together through the sport of hockey. All are welcome, and tonight we celebrate that through our eighth annual Pride Night."

"We talked with the players about it," Hynes said. "This is what our philosophy is as an organization, but the players are a big part of the organization so we had the discussion with the players just to see if there were any issues or anything like that. But guys were all on board with it. And we're planning on wearing the jerseys and representing the organization that way."
The Predators celebration of Pride Night is part of "Hockey Is For Everyone," a league-wide initiative to provide a safe, positive and inclusive environment for players and families regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity or expression, disability, sexual orientation and socio-economic status.
"I think it's an awesome initiative," Preds defenseman Tyson Barrie said. "It's something that's really close to my heart. I've got family members and best friends in the [LGBTQIA+] community, and there's a little bit of frustration on my end with what's transpired this year."
Barrie and his teammates felt it important to convey welcoming and acceptance to members of the LGBTQIA+ community. The organization aims to create a safe space for everyone to enjoy the game of hockey, regardless of their sexual orientation or identity.
"I think I know how hard it can be for people to come out and live their authentic lives," Barrie said. "I hope that none of the stuff that's gone on has pushed anybody back, [especially] any young kids who are thinking about it. So I'm just really, really excited that everybody on our team is going to participate."
In addition to the Pride jerseys, the Predators wore jersey patches representing The Covenant School in honor of the six people who were killed on March 27 by a shooter who identified as transgender.
"That was something you never anticipate," Barrie said of the shootings. "It's just an absolute tragedy. With the [LGBTQIA+ community] being linked to it, I don't think you can take the actions of one person and group a whole group of people (together)."

The last 10 days have been anything but easy for the Nashville community. But when the Predators were called upon to use their platform to create a safe space and drive positive social change, they delivered.
"This is what you can do with sports," Hynes said. "As we've said to the players, you give the respect back to the community and to the fanbase."
The Predators have vowed to show that respect by building a community that welcomes and celebrates authenticity and the love of hockey.
In SMASHVILLE, all are welcome.