At yesterday's Panthers-Maple Leafs game, as we see more regularly among NHL teams, the Florida organization planned to wear multi-colored jerseys during warm-ups to show their commitment to inclusion and to remind us that hockey is a sport for everyone. However, brothers Eric and Marc Staal decided not to wear the jerseys because of their religious beliefs, as did San Jose Sharks goalie James Reimer a few days earlier. <div align='center'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/Ken_Campbell27/status/1639047355268833289?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1639047355268833289%7Ctwgr%5E395a2f7c02bee93e85c3ea8a08c3092979dcba4d%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.habsolumentfan.com%2Failleurs-dans-la-lnh%2Feric-staal-se-couvre-de-ridicule-en-entrevue-apres-la-rencontre-d-hier'> </a></blockquote></div> Although this decision was personal, the Staal brothers were criticized on social networks for not understanding that wearing the jerseys was not an endorsement of anything, but rather a way to affirm that everyone is welcome in a field hockey locker room, regardless of gender or sexual orientation. During the game, a photo began circulating on social media showing Eric Staal wearing a multi-colored jersey from his time with the Montreal Canadiens less than two years ago. Where this situation took a completely unexpected turn, and where the 38-year-old veteran covered himself in ridicule, was when reporters asked him about the photo. His response? He flatly denied ever having worn it! <q>I haven't worn this type of sweater before. I've never done it... I've never in my life worn a multi-colored inclusion sweater. - Eric Staal</q> Completely ridiculous, especially since there is very concrete evidence that totally shows the opposite. Here's a photo of Staal wearing a multicolored jersey, when he was with the CH: <div align='center'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/rinkside/status/1639088139963715585?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1639088139963715585%7Ctwgr%5E395a2f7c02bee93e85c3ea8a08c3092979dcba4d%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.habsolumentfan.com%2Failleurs-dans-la-lnh%2Feric-staal-se-couvre-de-ridicule-en-entrevue-apres-la-rencontre-d-hier'> </a></blockquote></div> He now looks like a real idiot with a comment like that, and he's getting completely picked on about it on social media. <div align='center'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/YahooSportsNHL/status/1639038039023316993?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1639038039023316993%7Ctwgr%5E395a2f7c02bee93e85c3ea8a08c3092979dcba4d%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.habsolumentfan.com%2Failleurs-dans-la-lnh%2Feric-staal-se-couvre-de-ridicule-en-entrevue-apres-la-rencontre-d-hier'> </a></blockquote></div> Credit: <a href='https://www.habsolumentfan.com/ailleurs-dans-la-lnh/eric-staal-se-couvre-de-ridicule-en-entrevue-apres-la-rencontre-d-hier?ref=marco&fbclid=IwAR35yyk6XOpT9KSB5-CNGSihhXqYKHPzHvzlYuuZeBieSOIWZwzYkeV1MHM' class='link_marker' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>HabsolutelyFan</a>