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Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Ivan Provorov declined to participate in Tuesday’s Pride Night pregame warmups, citing religious beliefs as a reason for his absence.
Before the matchup against the Anaheim Ducks, Provorov skipped warmups when the Flyers wore Pride-themed jerseys and used sticks wrapped in rainbow colors.
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“I respect everybody and I respect everybody’s choices,” Provorov told reporters postgame. “My choice is to stay true to myself and my religion. That’s all I’m going to say.”
Provorov also told reporters he is Russian Orthodox and refused further comment.
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After the Flyers’ 5-2 victory, head coach John Tortorella told reporters he didn’t consider benching Provorov for not participating in the Pride Night warmups.
“With Provy, he’s being true to himself and to his religion,” Tortorella told reporters postgame. “This has to do with his belief and his religion. It’s one thing I respect about Provy, he’s always true to himself. That’s where I’m at with that.”
The Flyers released a statement concerning Tuesday’s Pride Night, but didn’t directly address their defenseman in the statement.
“The Philadelphia Flyers organization is committed to inclusivity and is proud to support the LGBTQ+ community,” read the team’s statement. “Many of our players are active in their support of local LGBTQ+ organizations, and we were proud to host our annual Pride Night again this year. The Flyers will continue to be strong advocates for inclusivity and the LGBTQ+ community.”
