Prokop, who was drafted by the Nashville Predators last year, came out as gay with a heartfelt statement to fans this week, an admission he said he hoped would improve gay visibility within the hockey community.
Prokop and the Nashville Predators, the NHL team that drafted him in 2020, confirmed the news in statements on their respective Instagram accounts. Prokop, a 19-year-old defenseman who currently plays for the Calgary Hitmen in the Western Hockey League, said while the last year and a half of living through the pandemic was « crazy, » it gave him the chance to « find [his] true self. » « 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, » his statement read in part. « 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 is truly for everyone, » he wrote. Leaders in both the National and Western Hockey Leagues responded in support of Prokop.
