Hockey is for Everyone: Inclusion Initiatives in Professional Ice Hockey

The NHL was one of the first sports leagues to take initiatives toward a more inclusive game. In 2010, the Chicago Blackhawks made history by debuting the Stanley Cup during a local Pride parade, marking one of the first instances of Pride in the NHL. The NHL would eventually partner with the You Can Play Project in 2013, with the Florida Panthers being the first team to host Pride Night the same year. The Edmonton Oilers would be the first team to introduce Rainbow Pride stick tape in 2016. Today, every team holds some kind of inclusion-focused hockey night; although most teams still call it Pride Night, some have switched to Hockey Is for Everyone Night.

Some teams have been split in their support—Flyers defenseman Ivan Provorov did not participate in warmups, citing religious beliefs. On the other hand, his teammates, James van Riemsdyk and Scott Laughton, have partnered with and supported various non-profit LGBTQ+ initiatives, and additionally invited Trin Stephens, a non-binary 13-year-old, to the very Pride Night that Provorov did not participate in as their guest of honour.

Some players, advocates, and even organizations responded to the controversy. Meghan Duggan, a prominent figure in women’s hockey, shared her perspective during Toronto Maple Leafs’ Pride Night this year, stating “It’s no secret that there has been some negative press this year about certain players or teams choosing not to take part in these initiatives [...] It’s dangerous and it’s sad and it’s disappointing, but that’s why it’s great to celebrate and give life and time to some of the great things that are happening.”

The You Can Play Project—a partner of the NHL—also had a response, saying that “Religion and respect are not in conflict with each other, and we are certainly disappointed when religion is used as a reason to not support our community.”

Nashville Predators prospect, Luke Prokop, posted his statement and response on Twitter.

Tragically, on February 5, 2010, Brendan Burke passed away in a car accident at the age of 21. His untimely death deeply impacted the hockey community and sparked a renewed commitment to LGBTQ+ inclusion in the sport. Upon his passing, Brian Burke told his oldest children: “We can sit by the side of the road and hang our heads and mope, or we can keep marching. I’m marching, and so are all of you.”

And so Brendan’s brother, Patrick, along with Brian Kitts and Glenn Witman, would take a significant step in founding the You Can Play Project in 2012. The You Can Play Project is an organization dedicated to fighting homophobia and promoting inclusivity, respect, and equality for LGBTQ+ individuals across all sports. The project's mission is to ensure that athletes, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, are judged based on their skills, dedication, and character rather than their sexual orientation or gender expression. Through its partnership with the NHL, the Project can reach a wider audience and educate players, coaches, and fans about LGBTQ+ issues.

The Alphabet Sports Collective

The Alphabet Sports Collective is a new hockey-specific initiative that was launched very recently (March 2023) by Brock McGillis and Bayne Pettinger. The organization is dedicated to their goal of creating safe and inclusive spaces through fostering community connections, teaching and learning, and encouraging active engagement.

This non-profit organization aims to combat institutional bias and systemic violence by creating community and free spaces for LGBTQ+ individuals to live and thrive within the hockey community. It upholds a strong vision centred around its key core values: Respect, Integrity & Transparency, Collaboration, Accessibility, and Accountability.

The Alphabet Sports Collective also has an Ambassador Program, with the hopes that these highly influential players and officials—whether they be queer themselves or straight allies—will inspire many young players and promote messages of inclusion. It is with this program that the Collective hopes to push hockey culture toward a safer and more equitable game. Notable ambassadors include: Morgan Reilly, Sam Reinhart, James van Riemsdyk, Harrison Browne, Gord Miller, and Tessa Bonhomme.

Luke Prokop

Luke Prokop came out as gay in July 2021 and became the first openly gay player under contract with an NHL team. The third-round draft pick and Nashville Predators prospect made the announcement through social media. 

In his statement, Prokop expressed his gratitude for the support he had received from family, friends, and the Predators organization. He also emphasized the importance of being true to oneself and hoped that his openness about his sexual orientation would help create a more inclusive and accepting environment in the hockey community.

Prokop's courageous step was met with widespread support from the NHL, other players, fans, and the general public. The NHL issued a statement commending Prokop for his bravery and expressing their commitment to making hockey a more inclusive sport. He has since advocated strongly for the LGBTQ+ community in hockey. During the 2021-22 season, he initiated a fundraiser called “Shots for Impact” with Kids Help Phone, where he donated $10 to the organization for every shot on net he made that season.

Meghan Duggan

Meghan Duggan, an exceptional athlete and leader, led the United States women's ice hockey team to a victorious gold medal win at the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics, along with two additional Olympic silver medals, six Four Nations Cups, and seven world titles. Beyond her contributions on the ice, Duggan has also made various other contributions—she was named New Jersey Devils’ manager of player development in 2021 and is one of many champions for LGBTQ+ rights and inclusion within the realm of sports. 

She married her wife, Gillian Apps, in 2018. Apps is a descendant of Syl Apps and Syl Apps Jr. and was part of Team Canada—meaning the two played many games and championships against each other. They are hardly alone either—ex-captains Julie Chu (Team USA) and Caroline Ouellette (Team Canada) very recently welcomed their second child into the family, and current Canadian greats Marie-Philip Poulin and Laura Stacey announced their engagement about a month ago.

This year, Duggan was asked to provide a speech to the team ahead of the Toronto Maple Leafs’ Pride Night, a request she accepted wholeheartedly. Players like Austen Matthews described the speech as “powerful,” and among the points and exercises she had the players go through, she remarked that “it’s not about endorsing certain values. What it is is saying to a community of people [that] ‘You are welcome here.’”