On March 15, the Rangers hosted the Anaheim Ducks in what they were calling Women’s Empowerment Night. The national anthem was sung by a female police officer, New York Governor Kathy Hochul dropped the ceremonial first puck to a cascade of booing from the stands, Amanda Kessel flashed her recently won Olympic silver medal, and players wore warmup jerseys designed by a local female artist, Soraya “Indie184” Marquez.
While that was certainly a nice gesture and highlighting a local artist is more meaningful than what has been done in the past, the idea that Women’s Empowerment Night or Military Appreciation Night, or Pride Night is often reduced down to some colorful warmup jerseys and a puck drop by someone notable who fits the bill and maybe, if we’re lucky, some charity money goes one way or another just doesn’t sit right with me.