Detroit Red Wings
Former Red Wings Player at Center of UK Hockey Controversy
Booth refuses to wear pride jersey
During his time with the Detroit Red Wings, forward David Booth was very open about his deeply held religious faith. Now playing hockey in the UK for the EIHL’s Fife Flyers, Booth’s Christian beliefs were at odds with the team’s plans for a Pride Night celebration.
For many years now, the Flyers have donned specially-designed Pride Night jerseys for a game to honor the area’s LGBTQ+ community. However, in his first season with the team, Booth declined to participate, refusing to wear the special jersey.
In turn, the team reneged on its plan to wear the jerseys during Saturday’s game against the Guildford Flames. Instead, they indicated that they would wear the Pride Night jerseys during the pre-game warm-up. They would suit up in their regular jerseys for the game.
Booth declined to take part in the warm-up and wear his jersey. His special jersey was also removed from the traditional post-game auctioning of the jerseys that annually raises funds for the area’s LGBTQ+-related charitable causes.
In a release, the team indicated that this decision was made to “respect the diversity of personal beliefs” among the players.
We want to acknowledge the hurt and disappointment many in our community felt due to our decisions on Pride Night.
We are truly sorry for the impact this had and understand why it has caused upset amongst the community.
The Fife Flyers are committed to inclusion and aim to be a… pic.twitter.com/ufya9imYzt
— Fife Flyers 🏒🏴 (@FifeFlyers) February 1, 2026
When representatives of The Hive – this year’s designated charity – showed up at the game, they were informed that the jerseys would not be worn because of an internal team issue. They left the rink immediately, refusing to accept any donation from the team.
The Flyers were harshly criticized within the UK hockey and LGBTQ+ communities. Independently, people donated thousands of dollars in support of The Hive.
Former Red Wings Player Injured During Game
Booth’s decision not to participate in the warm-up came back to haunt him. Five minutes into the game, a leg injury would force Booth out of action.
David Booth injured, carried off ice by teammates and staff
byu/Training_Purchase318 inEIHLHockey
Booth, 41, was an NHLer for 530 games. That includes 28 games for the Red Wings in 2017-18. That season, he was accounting for four goals and one assist.
Nothing wrong with him standing up for his beliefs. it is unfortunate that a controversy developed.
Great kid. His dad used to bring him to my summer skates.
There’s no hate quite like Christian love.
So, Oz, let’s say I’m a team owner and I mandate that you wear an American flag jersey. If you decline, does that mean that you hate America? Or would it mean that you simply disapprove of me attaching my political (or social) beliefs to your job as a hockey player.
Personally, I don’t like having the national anthem of either the US or Canada (or both) played before every game. A significant number of players on every team are from countries other than the US or Canada. Save the anthems for the Olympics and other national-team events. For all other games, just drop the puck and play hockey.
You wouldn’t make the same snide remark about Islam, would you?
I would make the same remark about any religion or belief that preaches love and goes out of its way to discriminate and spread hate against groups that don’t align with its beliefs. Fundamentalist Christians just seem to be really proud of it for some reason. I was raised Catholic, but that doesn’t mean I will blindly accept hateful ideology.
Completely agree.
Did he say everyone can’t participate, no, he chose not to and did it respectfully, which is his right and that does not make him a hater. Look in the mirror to find the hater.
Booth’s decision not to participate in the warm-up came back to haunt him.
Such absolute nonsense. That’s like saying if he had worn that “Pride” jersey, he wouldn’t have gotten hurt. And he probably would have had a hat trick too.
I don’t care if it’s the UK or the US, keep your damn social and political issues out of the sport of hockey.
Amen
I know what you’re saying but I think he meant by not warming up his body, he was injury prone. Though in this case I don’t think it would have mattered, and Bob should’ve seen this…so it does make it look like he’s making a socio-political comment.
Professional hockeys’ pandering to socio/political grifts is disappointing. When the NHL began groveling to Saint Floyd, I stopped watching hockey altogether for three years. Stick to the game and keep the politics out of it.