san jose sharks The SAPS are hosting Pride Night on Saturday at the Center, but their goalkeeper will not be included in the celebration.
James Reimer announced on Twitter that he would not wear a Pride-themed warmup jersey before the game against new york islanders,
Reimer cited his religious beliefs.
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James Reimer of the San Jose Sharks takes reps during warmups at SAP Center on March 11, 2023 in San Jose, California. (Andrea Cardani / NHLI via Getty Images)
“For all 13 years of my NHL career, I have been a Christian – not just in title, but in how I choose to live my life daily. I have personal faith in Jesus Christ who died on the cross for my sins. and, in response, asks me to love and follow everyone,” he said via the team’s Twitter account. “I have no hatred in my heart for anyone, and I have always tried to treat everyone with respect and kindness.
“In this specific instance, I am choosing not to support something that goes against my personal beliefs that are based on the Bible, which is the supreme authority in my life.”
Reimer’s decision seems contrary to the theme of the night, but shark said in a separate statement They “recognize and accept the rights of individuals to express themselves, including how or what they choose to express their beliefs, regardless of reason or subject matter.”
The Sharks tweeted on Saturday that they would “offer information and facts LGBTQIA+ topicsinstead of “our usual sporting stuff” during Saturday’s competition.
“We hope this piece of content will serve as a reminder that there are more important issues than goals, highlights and wins,” the team said in its tweet.
San Jose Sharks logo on jerseys during a game against the Vegas Golden Knights at SAP Center October 4, 2019 in San Jose, California. (Ezra Shaw / Getty Images)
“Hockey is not for everyone unless everyone is comfortable playing, working or being a fan of this incredible sport.”
Reimer is not the first NHL player to give up a Pride-themed jersey in warmups. Philadelphia Flyers’ Ivan Provorov cited his Russian Orthodox religion as his reason for not participating in warm-ups at his team’s Pride night, when the rest of the team wore LGBTQ-themed jerseys.
New York Rangers promoted its Pride Night in January, saying players would wrap Pride-themed tapes on sticks, but that plan was also scrapped without explanation. That’s what happened to the Minnesota Wild earlier this month.
San Jose Sharks goaltender James Reimer protects the net during first period action against the Winnipeg Jets at the Canada Life Center on March 6, 2023 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. (Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty Images)
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The Sharks are 19–36–14, and their 52 points are the second fewest in the league. Reimer’s .895 save percentage ranked 42nd among 50 eligible goaltenders. His 3.26 goals against average is 40th.