NHL player skips team's LGBTQ-pride themed warmup, cites religious beliefs

Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Ivan Provorov is citing his religious belief as reason for why he didn't participate in a recent pre-game warmup in which the team wore LGBTQ-pride-themed jerseys and used sticks wrapped in rainbow pride tape.

"I respect everybody’s choices," Provorov, who is Russian Orthodox, said after the game. "My choice is to stay true to myself and my religion. That’s all I’m going to say."

The warmup – more commonly known in hockey circles as the "pre-game skate" – was Tuesday night before a home game against the Anaheim Ducks.

The 26-year-old Provorov played nearly 23 minutes in Philadelphia’s 5-2 victory, according to the Associated Press. 

Flyers coach John Tortorella said Provorov “was true to himself and to his religion.”

“It’s one thing I respect about Provy, he’s always true to himself,” Tortorella said.