Flyers coach John Tortorella defended Russian defenseman Ivan ProvorovB次元官网网址檚 as his reason to boycott the teamB次元官网网址檚 pregame Pride celebration.

B次元官网网址淧rovy did nothing wrong,B次元官网网址� Tortorella said Thursday. B次元官网网址淛ust because you donB次元官网网址檛 agree with his decision doesnB次元官网网址檛 mean he did anything wrong.B次元官网网址�

Before TuesdayB次元官网网址檚 game against the Anaheim Ducks, the 26-year-old Provorov sat out warmups, during which the Flyers wore Pride-themed jerseys and used sticks wrapped in rainbow tape.

Provorov is Russian Orthodox, and said after the game that he respected B次元官网网址� .B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淢y choice is to stay true to myself and my religion. ThatB次元官网网址檚 all IB次元官网网址檓 going to say,B次元官网网址� he said, declining to answer follow-up questions.

Tortorella said had B次元官网网址渧ery healthyB次元官网网址� conversations with Provorov, general manager Chuck Fletcher and select players days ahead of the game. ProvorovB次元官网网址檚 decision was not a surprise to the organization.

The first-year Flyers coach also said he never considered benching Provorov.

B次元官网网址淲hy would I bench him? Because of a decision heB次元官网网址檚 making on his beliefs and his religion?B次元官网网址� Tortorella said. B次元官网网址淚t turned out to be a great night for Pride night.B次元官网网址�

The Flyers, led by players James van Riemsdyk and Scott Laughton, have been staunch supporters of the LGBTQ community and launched a program in support of LGBTQ youth in the greater Philadelphia area. The Flyers also hosted a pregame skate for local LGBTQ youth, and Laughton and van Riemsdyk met after the game with about 50 people from the community.

B次元官网网址淚 think ultimately IB次元官网网址檇 like to look at the positives from the night,B次元官网网址� van Riemsdyk said Thursday. B次元官网网址淲e were able to host a few different groups and meet with them after the game. I think thatB次元官网网址檚 where IB次元官网网址檇 like to keep the focus on, about the good things that happened. Ultimately, when you play a team sport, and thereB次元官网网址檚 lots of different people from different backgrounds, thereB次元官网网址檚 different causes that people support.B次元官网网址�

Tortorella dismissed criticisms that ProvorovB次元官网网址檚 actions B次元官网网址渆mbarrassed the organization,B次元官网网址� saying, B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 look it at like that all.B次元官网网址�

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said Thursday that few outliers, such as Provorov, undermine the leagueB次元官网网址檚 overall commitment to inclusion.

B次元官网网址淚 think everybody knows what the league stands for in terms of our values, what the Flyers stand for in terms of their values, but in the final analysis, individual players are going to make decisions and follow their beliefs,B次元官网网址� Bettman said before the Buffalo Sabres game. B次元官网网址淗aving said that, when you look at all of our players and the commitments that theyB次元官网网址檝e made to social causes and to making our game welcoming and inclusive, letB次元官网网址檚 focus on the 700 that embrace it and not one or two that may have some issues for their own personal reasons.B次元官网网址�

Tortorella has coached five NHL teams and drew comparisons to his own controversy in 2016 in Columbus, when he . His comments came in the wake of former San Francisco 49ers quarterback because he said the country B次元官网网址渙ppresses Black people and people of color.B次元官网网址�

Tortorella has since said, and reiterated Thursday, he was wrong.

B次元官网网址淚 learned a lot through that experience,B次元官网网址� Tortorella said. B次元官网网址淢y feelings toward any kind of protest to the flag during the anthem, it disgusts me, to this day. It disgusts me. It shouldnB次元官网网址檛 be done. Those are my feelings. I canB次元官网网址檛 push those feelings on to someone else. So I was wrong in saying that back then. I didnB次元官网网址檛 realize I was.

B次元官网网址淏ut as I went through it all, who am I to push my feelings on to someone else. Same situation here.B次元官网网址�

The Russian Orthodox Church, like other major Eastern Orthodox branches, doesnB次元官网网址檛 perform or recognize same-sex marriages. , has been supportive of moves by Russian President Vladimir PutinB次元官网网址檚 government to implement anti-LGBTQ legislation.

The NHL also champions the You Can Play Project, which aims to ensure equality, respect and safety for all athletes, without regard to sexual orientation. The NHL has never had an openly gay active player. You Can Play co-founder Brian Kitts said in a statement that B次元官网网址渞eligion and support for fans and teammates arenB次元官网网址檛 mutually exclusive.B次元官网网址�

The NHL said that clubs B次元官网网址渄ecide whom to celebrate, when and howB次元官网网址� and that players B次元官网网址渁re free to decide which initiatives to support, and we continue to encourage their voices and perspectives on social and cultural issues.B次元官网网址�

Tortorella said Provorov knew B次元官网网址渉e was going to have some blow back.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淧rovyB次元官网网址檚 not out there banging a drum against Pride night,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淗e felt strongly with his beliefs and he stayed with it.B次元官网网址�

The Flyers have only 19 wins but have won four of five headed into ThursdayB次元官网网址檚 game against Chicago and are 8-2 since an overtime win Dec. 29 at San Jose.

Tortorella insisted the lingering affects of Pride night would not splinter the locker room.

B次元官网网址淣ot for a second,B次元官网网址� Tortorella said. B次元官网网址淭he meeting at the end of the game, the 15, 20 minutes we spent together was very healthy. Really good process in a very important situation. To me, it bonds the team going through something like that. IB次元官网网址檓 not concerned about speculation of a team splitting up. Not a chance.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址� Dan Gelston, The Associated Press