'Comfortable being who I am': NHL prospect and Calgary Hitmen player comes out
Luke Prokop says he's no longer scared to hide who he is.
The 19-year-old became the first player under an NHL contract to come out as gay, making the public announcement Monday morning.
"I got to a place where I was... I wanted to be comfortable being who I am and that's going to be in front of my family, in front of my friends, in front of my teammates. Then, ultimately, in front of the world," Prokop told TSN.
"It's been really cool, the process of being able to come out publicly and be who I am," he said.
Prokop was born in Edmonton and spent most of the last four seasons with the Calgary Hitmen of the Western Hockey League.
He was drafted in the third round of the NHL Entry Draft by the Nashville Predators in 2020 and signed with the organization the same year.
Luke Prokop, July 19, 2021
His brother, Josh, served as the Hitmen's captain and Luke was named an alternate last season. The team's general manager says Prokop's leadership has always been apparent.
"We're just very proud of him. He's an impressive young man," said Hitmen GM Jeff Chynoweth.
"I've known Luke for a number of years and, just imagine the weight that's been on his shoulders and to be free now, to be your own self. I think, just as an organization, we stand with him. And we're so proud of him," he said.
MONUMENTAL MOMENT
David Palumbo with the You Can Play Project calls Prokop's announcement a monumental one and said "it's a great day for sports."
"It's critically important, certainly for youth, looking what happens in the higher leagues and pro leagues in terms of can they be there themselves and being part of the LGBT+ community shouldn't have any barrier whatsoever," Palumbo said.
Prokop said he's relieved he can now put more of his focus onto hockey and his training, though he hopes to he can be an example that gay people are welcome in the hockey community.
"As much as I want to do this for myself and hockey, that's the kind of person I am — I want to help people be comfortable with who they are and if I can just impact one kid, one adult, anybody in the world, I've done my job and that's all I can ask for," Prokop said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
RCMP uncovers alleged plot by 2 Montreal men to illegally sell drones, equipment to Libya
The RCMP says it has uncovered a plot by two men in Montreal to sell Chinese drones and military equipment to Libya illegally.
Demonstrators kicked out of Ontario legislature for disruption after failed keffiyeh vote
A group of demonstrators were kicked out of the legislature after a second NDP motion calling for unanimous consent to reverse a ban on the keffiyeh failed to pass.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
Government agrees to US$138.7M settlement over FBI's botching of Larry Nassar assault allegations
The U.S. Justice Department announced a US$138.7 million settlement Tuesday with more than 100 people who accused the FBI of grossly mishandling allegations of sexual assault against Larry Nassar in 2015 and 2016, a critical time gap that allowed the sports doctor to continue to prey on victims before his arrest.
Man wanted in connection with deadly shooting in Toronto tops list of most wanted fugitives in Canada
A 35-year-old man wanted in connection with the murder of Toronto resident 29-year-old Sharmar Powell-Flowers nine months ago has topped the list of the BOLO program’s 25 most wanted fugitives across Canada, police announced Tuesday.
Doctors ask Liberal government to reconsider capital gains tax change
The Canadian Medical Association is asking the federal government to reconsider its proposed changes to capital gains taxation, arguing it will affect doctors' retirement savings.
Keeping these exotic pets is 'cruel' and 'dangerous,' Canadian animal advocates say
Canadian pet owners are finding companionship beyond dogs and cats. Tigers, alligators, scorpions and tarantulas are among some of the exotic pets they are keeping in private homes, which pose risks to public safety and animal welfare, advocates say.
Thieves use stolen forklift to rip cash machine out of U.K. bank
Police in the U.K. are searching for a group of suspects seen on video using a forklift to steal a cash machine from a bank.
'There was a lot of black smoke': Crane operator sounds alarm while trapped during highrise fire in Halifax
A tower crane operator alerted emergency crews after noticing a fire on a construction site in Halifax Tuesday morning.