Marc-Andre Fleury wore a custom mask during the Minnesota Wild’s Native American Heritage night last Friday after the NHL told him it was not allowed.
Fleury appeared on the ice for the team’s match against the Colorado Avalanche wearing the custom crafted designed mask. Agent Allan Walsh confirmed early in the day the league informed his client that he could not wear the mask, even for warmups.
The NHL prohibits its players from wearing specialty jerseys, masks, stickers, decals or tape for theme nights.
Previously, they had banned players from using rainbow-coloured tape on Pride nights before that decision was changed, after they recieved backlash from around the hockey community. Teams are not allowed to dress up their players in themed jerseys for warmups this season after a handful of players chose last season to opt out of Pride Night warmups that involved specialty jerseys.
With the Minnesota celebrating Native American Hertiage night Friday against the Avalanche, Fleury wanted to honour his wife, Veronique who is of the Abenaki and Mi’kmaq descent, with the mask. Walsh said Fleury agreed to pay whatever fine he’d recieve and the NHL threatened to levy the organizatioin with an “additional significant fine.’’
It was not clear how much either of those fines would be. The Wild did not comment, while messages sent to the NHL regarding the situation were not immediately returned.
Fleury, 38, is a three-time Stanley Cup champion and won the Vezina Trophy in 2021 as the league’s top goaltender.
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