Minnesota Wild Goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury knew he wanted to pay tribute to indigenous cultures on the Wild team’s Native American Heritage Night on November 24th. Furthermore, Fleury opted to pay respects to his wife, Véronique LaRose, who is a member of the indigenous community in Canada. In preparation, Fleury recruited an artist to design a mask donning indigenous-inspired artwork for the special night. However, the NHL warned the goaltender he was not allowed to wear the tribute mask without a fine. Despite the risk, the veteran wore the mask anyway.
Marc-Andre Fleury’s banned Mask
The mask features green, yellow, and red floral designs. The florals are meant to represent the Dakota culture, aesthetics, environment, and relationship to the Earth. The Dakota people have been living on Minnesota’s shores for countless generations. Moreover, Dakota and Island Prairie member, Cole Redhorse Taylor designed a floral helmet for Fleury. Nicknamed “Flower,” Taylor believes the mask is fitting for netminder.
The mask also features language. Below the forehead and under the cage of the mask are bits of the Dakota language. Taylor says the Dakota language is an important part of the helmet, as it was the first language of St. Paul. Furthermore, inscribed on the back of the mask is a quote in French. The quote comes from Fleury’s late father, who had lost an eye as a kid. Fleury says, his father would instruct him to “keep his eye on the puck.”
Another Debatable Decision by the NHL
Ahead of this season, the NHL banned specialty items worn by players during promotional nights, such as Native American Heritage Night and Pride Night. The ban initially included the use of Pride tape. The ban against Pride tape was reversed after Arizona Coyote Travis Dermott was showered with support from the hockey community for defying the ban. Dermott displayed his support for the LGBTQIA+ community by using Pride tape in a game against the Anaheim Ducks.
Fleury offered to limit the use of his mask for warm-ups only and pay the fine himself. Yet Fleury’s agent, Allan Walsh, informed Fleury that the NHL threatened to levy the Minnesota Wild franchise with an “additional significant fine,” if Fleury were to do so. Fleury responded by calling the league’s decision “stupid,” and warmed up in the Native American-inspired mask in a game against the Colorado Avalanche.
The NHL Needs to Re-evaluate
For many, it is impossible to understand why a league that dubs that “hockey is for everyone,” would fight against gestures meant to welcome and honour individuals from minority communities. The decisions the NHL continues to make only limit the opportunities for growth in the sport and squander diversity within the game.
Why is the NHL so afraid of flowers on a helmet or rainbow-coloured tape on a stick? Perhaps the league fears these are “controversial” symbols that will garner negative attention and decreased viewership. What the league has not realized is they are inflicting those exact wounds on themselves by implicating these bans. Overall, it is not the league’s place to decide who a player honours and supports whilst on the ice.
NHL bans are reversible; Travis Dermott has proven such. The future hall-of-fame candidate followed suit. Fleury continues to show his support for the indigenous and criticizes the league for this decision by wearing his banned mask anyway. NHL players can be instrumental in advocating for change. In hockey, there are no capes. In this sport, the heroes wear skates.
Main photo: Nick Wosika-USA TODAY Sports
