Heated Rivalry François Arnaud Hopes for ‘Actual Openness to Diversity’ in NHL

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François Arnaud, star of the show Heated Rivalry, hopes that hockey teams benefiting from the show’s popularity will also actively support the LGBTQ+ community. He noted that while the show is gaining traction – even the Boston Bruins shared clips online – the NHL hasn’t always been inclusive. Arnaud pointed out a past incident where a player was prohibited from wearing a Pride band and stated that if teams are going to profit from the show’s success, they should demonstrate genuine support for diversity and inclusion.

As a long-time hockey fan, I remember the whole situation with the NHL last year. They initially banned things like pride tape on sticks and special jerseys – including pride jerseys – but quickly reversed course after a lot of criticism. Before that, players would wear these themed jerseys during warm-ups for things like Pride Night or to honor the military. A few players actually refused to wear the pride jerseys, saying it went against their religious beliefs. Ultimately, the NHL decided to just get rid of the special jerseys altogether and also banned the colorful tape, which was a bit of a mess, honestly.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman praised the show “Heated Rivalry,” calling it “very well done” with a “compelling storyline.” He even admitted to watching the entire series in one night! In an interview with The Hockey News, he described it as a “wonderful story,” but noted some content might be a bit mature for younger viewers. The league is hoping to capitalize on the show’s popularity and attract new fans, which could lead to increased attendance at events like Pride nights.

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2026-01-18 00:54