David Booth Injured in EIHL Game Amid Pride Night Controversy
David Booth’s return to professional hockey in the UK took an unfortunate turn this weekend, as the former NHL forward suffered a lower-body injury early in a game with the Fife Flyers - and the circumstances around it have sparked more than just concern for his health.
Booth, 41, went down less than five minutes into the Flyers’ matchup against the Guildford Flames in England’s Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL). The injury came on a seemingly routine play - a snapshot attempt off a faceoff - when his left leg appeared to give out. He fell to the ice in clear discomfort and had to be helped off by teammates after officials stopped play.
But the injury wasn’t the only storyline of the night.
Booth reportedly chose not to participate in the team’s warmups before the game, a decision that’s now under scrutiny given the non-contact nature of his injury. According to reports, the choice was tied to a disagreement with team management over the use of Pride-themed jerseys for a charity event. Booth had expressed opposition to wearing the jerseys, which led the team to adjust its plan - deciding to wear them only during warmups rather than the full game.
That compromise didn’t sit well with the charity involved, which pulled its support for the event in response. The Flyers proceeded with the altered plan, but Booth opted out of warmups entirely.
The fallout was swift. The Flyers released a statement the next day, acknowledging the controversy and expressing regret over how the situation unfolded.
“We want to acknowledge the hurt and disappointment many in our community felt due to our decisions on Pride Night,” the team posted on Instagram. “We are truly sorry for the impact this had and understand why it has caused upset amongst the community.
The Fife Flyers are committed to inclusion and aim to be a welcoming club for the LGBTQ+ community and for everyone who supports our team. We will reflect on this, continue listening, and work to ensure our values are better reflected in how we move forward.”
It’s a tough moment for a player who’s been open about his gratitude for still being able to lace up the skates at this stage of his career. Booth, who played 59 games for the Toronto Maple Leafs during the 2014-15 NHL season, has spent the last few years playing overseas and in lower-tier leagues after wrapping up his NHL run with the Detroit Red Wings in 2017-18.
Before his stint in Toronto, Booth spent six seasons with the Florida Panthers, where he broke into the league and enjoyed his most productive years, including a 31-goal campaign in 2008-09. He also had a brief run with the Vancouver Canucks and played a season in Russia’s KHL with Admiral Vladivostok.
In a previous interview, Booth reflected on his journey and why he’s continued to play well into his 40s.
“I really believe I am extremely blessed to still be playing,” he said. “I know a lot of ex-NHLers might be confused as to why I’d still be doing this, but we have come to love this experience after thinking hockey was done in 2018.”
Now, that journey faces another hurdle - not just physically, but in how Booth and the Flyers move forward from a night that was meant to promote inclusion but instead left a community feeling disappointed and a veteran player sidelined.