First Active Player Under NHL Contract Comes Out As Gay

Just a month after Carl Nassib of the Las Vegas Raiders became the first active NFL player to come out of the closet, another major sports league can now join in the progress. In an Instagram post on Monday, National Hockey League prospect Luke Prokop came out as gay—the first active player under NHL contract to do so.

The 6-foot-4 defenseman from Edmonton currently plays for the Calgary Hitmen in the Western Hockey League. He was drafted by the NHL’s Nashville Predators in 2020. “I believe that living my authentic life will allow me to bring my whole self to the rink and improve my chances of fulfilling my dreams,” wrote the 19-year-old in his statement:

In an interview with ESPN hockey reporter Emily Kaplan, Prokop said “I’m finally gonna be able to breathe and exhale and show the world the real me.” Here’s a clip:

"I'm finally gonna be able to breathe and exhale and show the world the real me."

Luke Prokop talks with @emilymkaplan after he became the first active player under NHL contract to come out as gay. pic.twitter.com/JNOqUIYAsz

— ESPN (@espn) July 19, 2021

Prokop told ESPN that he struggled last season and came out publicly because he believed it would help ease his mind and allow him to play his best hockey. He told the network he made his decision to come out in April when he returned from Calgary after his season ended because of the pandemic.

“I was lying in bed one night, had just deleted a dating app for the fourth or fifth time, and I was extremely frustrated because I couldn’t be my true authentic self,” he said to Kaplan. “In that moment I said, ‘Enough is enough. I’m accepting who I am. I want to live the way I want to, and I want to accept myself as a gay man.'”

The Predators’ President and GM offered their support on social media, praising Prokop’s courage and noting that “We are committed to ensuring nothing stands in the way of his ability”:

Prokop noted that that support meant everything to him, the audio clip also shared by the Predators via social media:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Nashville Predators (@predsnhl)

Many NHL players and teams offered words on encouragement on Prokop’s tweet of the same statement, including Cam Atkinson of the Columbus Blue Jackets; Jakob Chychrun and Oliver Ekman-Larsson of the Arizona Coyotes; Jordan Martinook of the Carolina Hurricanes; Tyson Barrie of the Edmonton Oilers; Jason Zucker of the Pittsburgh Penguins; John Tavares, Mitchell Marner and Nick Foligno of the Toronto Maple Leafs; and more:

@lukeprokop_6, I admire your courage and know your story will serve as inspiration for so many. https://t.co/JK7jcGDxvJ

— John Tavares (@91Tavares) July 19, 2021

Noted ESPN: “Prokop said his decision to come out was made independently of Carl Nassib’s announcement in June, though Prokop found Nassib’s words, and the reaction to his announcement, inspiring. Nassib, a defensive end for the Las Vegas Raiders, became the first active NFL player to come out as gay.

One fear for Prokop was that people would assume he is making his announcement for attention. However, one of the biggest reasons he wanted to come out was to live authentically. Last season, he often had to hide his phone from teammates at the rink.”

In an interview with CTV two years ago, Prokop and his brother spoke to the station ahead of their team’s “anti-bullying” game:

Brothers take the ice for the @WHLHitmen. @CTVGCampbell catches up with Josh and Luke Prokop ahead of Wednesday's matinee anti-bullying game at the Saddledome. https://t.co/r86ZzBNpYL #yyc pic.twitter.com/7qLfoMYR08

— CTV Calgary (@CTVCalgary) February 27, 2019

“I share his hope that these announcements can become more common in the hockey community,” said NHL commissioner Gary Bettman in a statement. “LGBTQ players, coaches, and staff can only perform at their absolute best if they live their lives as their full and true selves. We do not take the meaning and importance of this announcement lightly.” Bettman added that the NHL will “do everything possible to ensure Luke’s experience is a welcoming and affirmative one” and that the league would support any players that follow “in his trailblazing footsteps.”

What do you think of Luke’s announcement? Do you think the NHL and its fans will be any more or less welcoming than the NFL? Do you believe the NHL executives? We thank Luke for his bravery and hope to see him playing for the Predators soon! (Who’s next? Let’s keep ’em coming!)