Kamloops Blazers set to auction off game-worn pride jerseys after Wednesday’s tilt with T-Birds

KAMLOOPS — On Wednesday night (March 22), the Blazers will don special pride jerseys, and yes, rainbow socks, as part of the club’s first-ever Pride Night.

“We hadn’t done a Pride Night jersey before, and we thought it was a good opportunity to do that,” Blazers’ Ticketing and Promotions Coordinator Missy Cederholm explains. “We partnered with TRUSU and TRU on the jersey and had them help us design it to make sure we got it right, and really highlight the LGBTQ+ community. We’re really excited about the way they look.”

The jerseys feature a rainbow stripe at the waist, with elements of the progress pride flag on the hip and the shoulder that include the trans pride flag colours. For Alyssa Christianson, President of Kamloops Pride, that attention to detail is meaningful.

“I really like the jerseys,” Christianson says. “I’m especially appreciative that they’ve included parts of the inclusive pride flag on the sleeves, with the trans flag colours, as well as the black and brown stripes to indicate queer people of colour and racialized minorities. I think that’s really important, and I’m really glad they included that. The overall design looks really cool.”

This season, headlines have been made in the NHL as players and even whole teams have decided against donning pride-themed jerseys for warmup.

As Christianson points out, those kinds of refusals by pro athletes could cause harm to young athletes who look up to them.

“I thought about all the young, queer hockey players who are out in the world,” Christianson says. “That would be really hard. Those young, queer sports players. That’s why I think it’s really important that teams do participate — to show there is a place for all players.”

The game-worn Blazers jerseys are already up for auction, with the proceeds going to a local program that offers free support and education to 2SLGBTQIA+ youth and their allies.

“The proceeds of the jersey auction will go to the Safe Spaces program that’s hosted by Interior Community Services,” Cederholm explains. “That’s a local program, so the proceeds stay in the community.”

Unfortunately, if you want to get a look at these beauties in action, you’ll have to tune in to the webcast. That’s because Wednesday night’s game against the Thunderbirds is almost completely sold out.