Luke Prokop. (Photo from Prokop’s Twitter)
Nashville Predators prospect, Luke Prokop publicly came out on social media July 19, making him the first-ever player under an NHL contract to do so.
Prokop was selected by the Predators during the third round of the 2020 NHL Draft. He served as an alternate captain for the Calgary Hitmen of the Western Hockey League during last season.
“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,” Prokop posted on Twitter. “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.”
❤️🧡💛💚💙💜 pic.twitter.com/7zqT0A2gJj
— luke prokop (@lukeprokop_6) July 19, 2021
Prokop joins Las Vegas Raiders lineman Carl Nassib as the second major active athlete on an American male sports team to come out as gay. Nassib became the first active NFL player to ever announce he’s gay back in June, during Pride month.
A few minutes following Prokop’s announcement, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman issued a statement of support.
“On behalf of the National Hockey League, we are proud of Luke Prokop for today’s announcement and I would like to thank him for sharing his truth and being so brave,” Bettman said.
Statement from NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman on Luke Prokop’s (@lukeprokop_6) decision to publicly come out as gay: pic.twitter.com/4S7rWI872W
— NHL (@NHL) July 19, 2021
The young athlete told ESPN that his decision to come out publicly came after his season last year was shortened by COVID-19.
“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. “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.’”
All members of the Predators management, including general manager David Poile, said they support Prokop “unequivocally.” Poile praised him, calling him a “very brave young man.”
