The NHL has its very first openly gay player as Luke Prokop comes out to the world
A huge step towards inclusivity in the NHL happened Monday. 19-year-old Nashville Predators prospect Luke Prokop has announced to the world that he is gay and very proud of it.
"While the past year-and-a-half has been crazy, it has also given me the chance to find my true self," said Prokop on his Twitter account. "Today I am proud to tell everyone that I am gay."
In an interview with The Athletic, Prokop explained that he has already informed management of the Predators, who have been nothing but supportive of his lifestyle. Prokop, a defenceman, has also informed his teammates with the Calgary Hitmen of the Western Hockey League.
"They've been really great," he said. "The part of me coming out is that I'm just one of the guys. Who I love and who I go home with that night, that's private and it shouldn't matter anymore. I'm just there to play hockey, I'm there to win a championship."
Should Prokop go on to play in the NHL, he would become the first openly gay player ever to do so.
"If I can inspire or help make a difference to one person, then I've done my job in wanting to create change and to create an environment where it's healthy for players to come out now," he said.
Prokop was drafted in the third round, 73rd overall, by Nashville in 2020.
