The NHL’s Unique Streak: No Out Gay Players in History

As the NHL season kicked off this week, the league continues a unique streak among the four major North American men’s professional team sports: there have been no out gay current or former players. This is in stark contrast to other leagues, where several athletes have come out publicly during their careers or after retiring.

In the NFL, there have been 16 out gay or bisexual players in history, including one who played while active. The NBA saw Jason Collins make history in 2013 by coming out as gay while still an active player. In MLB, there have been three out gay players in history, all of whom came out after they retired.

The NHL, however, has zero. This is especially surprising given that the league has been around since 1917. But hope may be on the horizon, thanks to an out gay minor league player who could potentially break this long-standing streak.

A History of Silence and Rumors

It’s not that there aren’t gay players in the league. Back in 1993, there was a Canadian Broadcasting Corp. radio show called “The Last Closet,” where two then-active gay NHL players were interviewed with their voices altered. They never came out publicly. About 10 years ago, there were rumors that at least two players would come out, but nothing ever materialized.

Brock McGillis, a former pro hockey player (though not in the NHL), has spoken about the culture of toughness in hockey as a reason why players haven’t come out or left the sport early after realizing they are gay.

Changing the Culture

McGillis is now promoting a culture shift in the sport through his speaking series called the “Shiftmakers Tour.” The tour has received high praise from players and staff in pro hockey. A member of the American Hockey League’s Rockford Icehogs described McGillis’ talk as “eye-opening for everyone.”

While the current culture in the NHL isn’t overtly anti-gay, there have been moments of controversy. Two years ago, the league banned Pride jerseys, but it relented when stars pushed back. Players like Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid have long voiced support for having an out gay teammate, and it’s likely that an out player would be universally accepted.

Hope in the Minors

There is a chance that the NHL’s 108-year streak of no out gay players could end because of Luke Prokop. The 22-year-old, 6-4 defenseman came out as gay in 2021, becoming the first active player under NHL contract to publicly do so. He has played in the minor leagues for eight years and now plays for the Bakersfield Condors, an AHL team affiliated with the Edmonton Oilers of the NHL.

Prokop came out at 19 and has been a proud advocate for LGBTQ people in hockey and beyond. “Being visible in the community and showing my love and appreciation, and love and support for the community, I think, is a really important thing,” he said about his appearance as the grand marshal of Milwaukee’s Pride Parade this year. He played for two seasons with the AHL’s Milwaukee Admirals.

A New Era?

I am not an NHL scout and don’t know whether Prokop will ever get called up to the NHL, something he called “a goal of mine ever since I was really little.” The fact that he is in the pipeline and has a chance gives gay hockey fans hope that a long drought might one day end.