Luke Prokop

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:

Luke Prokop

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:

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.

Luke Prokop

“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.'”

Luke Prokop

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”:

Luke Prokop

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

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:

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:

“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!)

Luke Prokop

5 thoughts on “First Active Player Under NHL Contract Comes Out As Gay”

  1. I really don’t think this should even be an issue anymore, but if it’s important to Luke or anyone who is dealing with what people may say, and it helps them to not worry what people say about them good for him. His family & friends plus his team mates all should be supportive which it sounds like, will help move him forward to a beautiful life. Good for you Luke!

  2. Seriously!? Stevie Wonder could have figured out he was gay. Not the most attractive but give us gays a canvas and we can create magic.

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