The San Jose Sharks NHL team held their Pride Night at SAP Center on Saturday, but their goalie James Reimer has announced on Twitter that he will not be participating in the event by wearing a pride-themed warmup jersey before the game against the New York Islanders.

In making the announcement, Reimer cited his Christian religious beliefs as guiding his decision.

“For all 13 years of my NHL career, I have been a Christian — not just in title, but in how I choose to live my life daily. I have a personal faith in Jesus Christ who died on the cross for my sins and, in response, asks me to love everyone and follow him,” he noted via the team’s Twitter account. “I have no hate in my heart for anyone, and I have always strived to treat everyone that I encounter with respect and kindness.

“In this specific instance, I am choosing not to endorse something that is counter to my personal convictions which are based on the Bible, the highest authority in my life,” Reimer added.

A statement from Goaltender, James Reimer: pic.twitter.com/GwhWxhbmb4

— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) March 18, 2023

Reimer’s decision seemingly went against the night’s theme, but the Sharks noted in a separate statement they “acknowledge and accept the rights of individuals to express themselves, including how or whether they choose to express their beliefs, regardless of the cause or topic.”

The team also tweeted on Saturday they would “offer information and facts about LGBTQIA+ topics” instead of “our normal game content” throughout Saturday’s game.

“Our hope is that this content will serve as a reminder that there are issues more important than goals, highlights, and wins,” said the squad in a tweet. “Hockey is not for everyone until everyone is comfortable playing, working, or being a fan of this incredible game.”

Reimer is not the first NHL player to reject Pride-themed jerseys in warmups. The Philadelphia Flyers’ Ivan Provorov, on his team’s Pride Night, declined to participate in the warmups, where the rest of the team sported LGBTQ-themed jerseys, citing his Russian Orthodox faith as the reason.

The New York Rangers and Minnesota Wild both announced plans for Pride Night events, including the use of pride-themed tape on sticks by players. However, both teams ultimately cancelled those plans without providing an explanation.