NHL's Ivan Provorov schools journalists on religious freedom
Fox News
Philadelphia Flyers's Ivan Provorov infuriated journalists when he refused to wear a rainbow jersey, citing his Christian faith.
On the NHL Network, analyst E. J. Hradek trashed Provorov, who moved from Russia to Pennsylvania when he was 13, saying he should go back to Russia and fight in Ukraine. "Ivan Provorov can get on a plane any day he wants and go back to a place where he feels more comfortable, take less money and get on with his life that way, if it's that problematic for him," he said. "If it bothers you that much, there's always a chance to leave, go back to where you feel more comfortable -- I understand there's a conflict of sorts going on over there, maybe get involved."
For their part, the Flyers didn't punish Provorov but offered their usual corporate expressions of support for LGBTQ "pride."