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Seattle Kraken head coach Dan Bylsma posed for pictures wearing the team's pride night jersey on Saturday, showing his support for the LGBTQ+ community. Bylsma explained the reasoning behind it.
He said the main message is that the NHL wants to make the game open and available to everyone.
Bylsma said:
"I think just the message of the NHL and making the game available to anybody and everybody. And that's not from just a playing standpoint, that's from an enjoyment standpoint as well, and it's just a symbol of being inclusive, because I think that's what our game is all about."
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"This is a great game of hockey for each and every one of us, male, female... everybody."
Bylsma reiterated that the Kraken wants hockey to be inclusive of everyone regardless of their background.
The special jersey was designed by local artist Kelly Bjork to depict a world of tenderness, acceptance and vulnerability. It featured rainbow colors and Kraken iconography. The auctioned jerseys will go to the Lambert House, a center for LGBTQ+ youth.
Fans react to Dan Bylsma modeling a Kraken pride jersey
Fans had mixed reaction on social media to head coach Dan Bylsma modeling the team's LGBTQ pride jersey.
One fan tweeted:
"Hockey is for EVERYONE."
A fan not satisfied with the design, wrote:
"Not a fan, these look like there was little to no effort. I get and respect the message but nah. We’ve had some incredible designs for sweaters over the years but this…not even close."
Here are some fan reactions:
"I am loving all of the special designs this season!" one fan wrote,
"These are so good," another fan wrote.
"“I have zero issues with Pride and all, but that jersey is brutal - one of the worst I've ever seen," a user commented wrote.
"Looks like it was made with construction paper, safety scissors and Elmer's school glue... F," another user wrote.
Overall, fans seem appreciative of Dan Bylsma participating and the team's efforts to promote diversity and acceptance in the sport.
