Flyers defenseman Ivan Provorov cited his Russian Orthodox faith as the rationale he didn’t take part in pre-game warmups when the workforce wore Delight-themed jerseys and used sticks wrapped in rainbow Delight tape.

The 26-year-old Provorov boycotted the pregame skate along with his teammates ahead of Tuesday evening’s recreation towards Anaheim because the Flyers celebrated their annual Delight evening in party and toughen of the LGBTQ+ neighborhood. He performed just about 23 mins in Philadelphia’s 5-2 victory.

“I recognize everyone’s alternatives,” Provorov mentioned after the sport. “My selection is to stick true to myself and my faith. That’s all I’m going to mention.”

Provorov declined to reply to follow-up questions on his resolution.

Flyers trainer John Tortorella mentioned Provorov “was once true to himself and to his faith”.

“It’s something I recognize about Provy, he’s all the time true to himself,” Tortorella mentioned.

Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill, chief of Russia’s dominant spiritual staff, despatched a robust sign closing March justifying his nation’s invasion of Ukraine – describing the warfare as a part of a battle towards sin and force from liberal foreigners to carry “homosexual parades” as the cost of admission to their ranks.

The jerseys and sticks had been set to be auctioned off by way of the Flyers following the sport, with proceeds going to the workforce’s charity and its efforts to develop the sport of hockey in various communities.

The Flyers additionally hosted a pregame skate for native LGBTQ+ adolescence. Flyers gamers James van Riemsdyk and Scott Laughton had been staunch supporters of the neighborhood and introduced a program in toughen of native LGBTQ+ adolescence within the higher Philadelphia house.

Laughton and van Riemsdyk met after the sport with about 50 other people within the LGBTQ+ neighborhood. Laughton mentioned total the Flyers had a “nice, nice evening that brings a large number of consciousness”.

Laughton mentioned there can be extra conversations forward with Provorov, who moved from Russia to the USA as a young person. He signed a six-year, $40.5m contract ahead of the 2019 season and received the Barry Ashbee Trophy because the Flyers’ remarkable defenseman in his rookie season, the youngest Philadelphia participant to obtain the honour.

“I don’t cling anything else towards someone,” Laughton mentioned. “It’s not anything like that. It was once an incredible evening and I’m more than pleased we were given a win on an evening like this.”

All-Megastar ahead Kevin Hayes, who had a hat trick within the win over Anaheim, mentioned “it’s now not for me to reply to” when requested how he felt about Provorov’s resolution.

The Wells Fargo Middle was once embellished Tuesday evening in rainbow hues representing the LGBTQ+ neighborhood via particular pride-themed area LEDs, décor and rainbow-themed workforce products.

“The Philadelphia Flyers group is dedicated to inclusivity and is proud to toughen the LGBTQ+ neighborhood,” the workforce mentioned in a remark after the sport. “Lots of our gamers are energetic of their toughen of native LGBTQ+ organizations, and we had been proud to host our annual Delight Night time once more this yr. The Flyers will proceed to be robust advocates for inclusivity and the LGBTQ+ neighborhood.”

The NHL additionally champions the You Can Play Venture, which goals to make sure equality, recognize and protection for all athletes, with out regard to sexual orientation. The NHL hasn’t ever had an overtly homosexual energetic participant.