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"I told him that what he was doing was courageous and that I believed that it was important for him to have the support of the NHL family, which he will have," Commissioner Bettman said. Tweet from ������????? /7zqT0A2gJjīut though women at high levels of hockey have come out - including former United States women's team captain Meghan Duggan, who was named New Jersey Devils manager of player development May 19 - until now no player under contract to an NHL team has done the same. The NHL has worked to increase its inclusivity via various initiatives, including: Hockey is for Everyone a longstanding relationship with You Can Play, which works to ensure the safety and inclusion of all who play sports, including LGBTQ athletes, coaches and fans and team Pride Nights. 9.Ĭommissioner Bettman said the most important sentiment he could impart to Prokop was one of support, that the NHL is behind him, there to help in any way it can. The 19-year-old native of Edmonton signed a three-year, entry-level contract with Nashville on Dec. He has played the past four seasons with Calgary of the Western Hockey League, scoring six points (two goals, four assists) in 15 games in 2020-21. Prokop was selected by the Predators in the third round (No. "Anybody who is connected to the NHL, whether it's front office, whether it's coaching and player development, whether it's players, we want everybody to know that whoever you are, you have a place in our family." "People, unless they can be their authentic true selves, can't be the best they can be," Commissioner Bettman said. The response from the NHL was immediate, starting with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, who spoke to Prokop by phone. Video: Luke Prokop comes out as first gay player in the NHL This is just the beginning of my journey and I am excited to see where it takes me, both in hockey and in life. "I may be new to the community, but I am eager to learn about the strong and resilient people who came before me and paved the way so I could be more comfortable today. I hope that in sharing who I am I can help other people see that gay people are welcome in the hockey community, as we work to make sure that hockey truly is for everyone. "I wouldn't be able to do this without my amazing family, friends, and agents - who have known this about me and met me with love and support every step of the way. From a young age I have dreamed of being an NHL player, and 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. "It has been quite the journey to get to this point in my life, but I could not be happier with my decision to come out. "Today I am proud to publicly tell everyone that I am gay.
While the past year and a half has been crazy, it has also given me the chance to find my true self. The Nashville Predators defenseman prospect came out in a social media post.