Former NHL star criticizes Rangers organization for hosting pride night
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Former New York Rangers star Ron Duguay criticized the organization for hosting a pride night at Madison Square Garden with a giveaway sponsored by Delta Airlines.
Duguay launched a couple of tweets making his position on the issue clear.
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Ron Duguay of the New York Rangers warms up before the alumni game against the Flyers in Philadelphia on December 31, 2011. (Brian Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images)
“@NYRangers @NYR_PR @Delta supports and supports the promotion of the transgender lifestyle. Haven’t you been reading and watching the news? What if a situation occurred at @TheGarden? What then?” he wrote on Sunday.
“How can a professional, non-political entity like a sports team sanction these things in families, especially with children? Most people don’t want to celebrate a group’s sexual lifestyle at a game. Can you limit it to a nice family night celebrating and enjoying their sports team?”
On Monday night, Duguay released his second post on the topic. Then he deleted it.
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Ron Duguay attends the 71st Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall in New York on June 11, 2017. (Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions)
“I didn’t want to say it before the game, but I saw this tonight losing 4-1 after singing the national anthem before the (rainbow) flag in front of a small group. Bad idea, bad mojo,” he wrote.
“I don’t blame the entire Rangers organization. It’s just a select few kids with washed, woke college brains who impose their agendas on others in the organization.
“I think at least 70% of the fans tonight didn’t want to participate in a Rangers game. They just wanted a family night. Husband, wife and kids. That’s what @NYRangers needs to celebrate. Rangers leadership needs to show some courage and stop.”
New York Rangers alumnus Ron Duguay attends Ronald McDonald House New York’s Skate With The Greats on February 21, 2020 in New York City. (Monica Schipper/Getty Images for Ronald McDonald House in New York)
The Pride Night debate erupted in 2023 when Philadelphia Flyers player Ivan Provorov opted out of the team’s Pride Night festivities. NHL players Eric and Marc Staal also made the decision to reject pride-themed jerseys when they were with the Florida Panthers.
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The issue has apparently calmed down in recent years.
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Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor at News Digital.