Recalling his ‘huge mistake,' Tortorella says Provorov ‘did nothing wrong'

VOORHEES, N.J. — Two days after Ivan Provorov bypassed warmups because of the Flyers' Pride Night-themed jerseys, John Tortorella reiterated his respect for the defenseman's decision.

The head coach did so by admitting to and recalling a mistake he had made amid a divisive social issue in 2016.

Colin Kaepernick, then the quarterback of the 49ers, had protested racial injustice by not standing while the national anthem was played prior to a preseason game.

Tortorella, then the head coach of the Blue Jackets, was asked how he would feel if a player of his took a seat during the anthem.

"I said the player would sit the rest of the game," Tortorella said Thursday morning. "I was wrong. I learned a lot through that experience.

"My feelings towards any type of protest to the flag, during the anthem — it disgusts me. To this day, it disgusts me. It shouldn't be done. Those are my feelings. I can't push those feelings onto someone else.

"So I was wrong in saying that back then. Didn't realize I was, but as I went through it all, it was, 'Who am I to push my feelings onto someone else?' Same situation here."

Provorov, citing his Russian Orthodox religion, chose to not participate in warmups Tuesday night, when the Flyers held their annual Pride Night to celebrate and support the LGBTQ+ community. The team wore Pride-related jerseys in warmups but Provorov did not take the ice.

"Provy did nothing wrong," Tortorella said. "Just because you don't agree with his decision doesn't mean he did anything wrong."

Tortorella said he had a "very healthy" conversation with Provorov "a few days prior to the game" about the 26-year-old's decision.

Tortorella and Provorov talked with general manager Chuck Fletcher. Tortorella informed Scott Laughton of Provorov's decision. Laughton is the team's lone alternate captain and a player ambassador for the Flyers' Pride Night, along with James van Riemsdyk.

"Provy's not out there banging a drum against Pride Night. He quietly went about his business," Tortorella said. "Him and I had a number of conversations to how we were going to do this. You have the team, you have him, you have all this going, talked to Laughts, went through the whole process there. [Provorov] felt strongly with his beliefs and he stayed with it.

"You asked me if I was going to bench him. Why would I bench him? Because of a decision he's making on his beliefs and his religion? It turned out to be a great night for Pride Night. Players were involved, the building was filled, there was awareness, everything. Provy didn't actively seek out and try to make a stand against it. He just felt he didn't want to take warmup. I respect him for his decision."

Following the Flyers' 5-2 win over the Ducks, the team had an open conversation in the locker room. Provorov and Laughton spoke. Tortorella called the conversation "very healthy" and a "really good process in a very important situation."

"I thought Provy handled himself really well in front of the team. And Laughts spoke. It's a very important social matter involved in sports," Tortorella said. "I thought our guys handled themselves really well. And I'm proud of the organization.

"People are pissing and moaning that the organization embarrassed. I don't look at it that way at all because so many people in this organization put so much time into this because it's so important to them.

"Provy's beliefs, he didn't get there. But it should not be so shortsighted in how much other things went on that night for Pride Night."

Before Tuesday's game, a group of people in the LGBTQ+ community enjoyed a skate at the Wells Fargo Center and toured the arena. After the game, Laughton and van Riemsdyk had a meet and greet with about 50 people from the LGBTQ+ community.

"I think there were a lot of positives about the night," van Riemsdyk said Thursday. "With Laughts and I, there were a few different groups that we met with after the game that were super excited to be there and appreciative of the support that the guys showed and that the organization showed them.

"We met a kid who we hosted earlier in the year who came back and was showing us pictures playing hockey and videos playing hockey. That's what it's all about for me. It just shows the positive impact that we can have."

The 33-year-old van Riemsdyk has played 900-plus NHL games.

"Over the course my career, you play with different people from different backgrounds, different situations," he said. "You're never going to be in full agreement or see the world the same way maybe as other people do. I think that's something that happens in team sports — that has been happening forever and will happen, ultimately, for a long time.

"Provy spoke on it and I think it's kind of his place to let his thoughts be known about what his decision was."

Tortorella said he wasn't concerned about Provorov's decision impacting the unity of the Flyers' locker room.

"Not for a second," he said.

The head coach didn't want the amount of work the Flyers invested into Pride Night to be overshadowed by Provorov's decision.

"Do you know how much time the organization and the players put into Pride Night? How much they wanted to be involved in that?" Tortorella said. "We forget that because one person, in his religion and his beliefs, did not want to partake in the 15-minute warmup.

"I think it takes on a life of its own sometimes because someone has a different belief. I bring up my situation because to this day, I still feel the same way about that flag. You shouldn't be protesting when the anthem's played and you're in front of that flag, that's about the men and women that are sacrificing their lives to give us our freedoms. That's what I look at. But I have no business to push my type of thought onto players at that particular time. Made a huge mistake back then. That's where I'm kind of putting it with this here.

"Provy knew he was going to have some blowback here. That's part of the business, that's part of what you go through. But I respect him as far as staying true to himself, as I said the other night. And I respect the organization, how they handled themselves here, because they went about their business and I thought it was a great night, Pride Night."

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