In a message publicly announcing his sa国际传媒渢rue selfsa国际传媒� on July 19, Luke Prokop became the first player under an National Hockey League contract to come out as gay.

sa国际传媒淚 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,sa国际传媒� he wrote in a statement on Twitter. The announcement was celebrated by players and teams across the hockey world, government leaders and others.

It also came about a month after Prokop spoke with Oak Bay native and NHL player agent, Bayne Pettinger. Prokop saw the support Pettinger got sa国际传媒� from players like Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid and more sa国际传媒� when he came out last November. He told the agent that made his decision easier.

sa国际传媒淚 think itsa国际传媒檚 fantastic for the game and just breaks down another barrier of inclusivity,sa国际传媒� Pettinger told Black Press Media.

Pettinger explained to Prokop, a 19-year-old Nashville Predators prospect from Edmonton, that after he shares his truth hesa国际传媒檇 likely face a media storm, that people would want to paint him as a poster boy and he may even feel some emotions or trauma he didnsa国际传媒檛 realize were there.

sa国际传媒淚sa国际传媒檓 excited to see what Luke does now that hesa国际传媒檚 shed this, now that he can walk into the rink and not have to worry about who knows and who doesnsa国际传媒檛, like I did for years.sa国际传媒�

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Itsa国际传媒檚 one step closer to stories like Prokopsa国际传媒檚 not being news anymore, Pettinger said. For now though, he said some people will try to tear Prokop down and he may face not being accepted in certain corners of the hockey community.

sa国际传媒淪ports and hockey, especially, are still behind,sa国际传媒� Pettinger said. sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 because hockey has a ways to go in terms of acceptance and diversity. This helps.sa国际传媒�

It took tremendous courage to do what Prokop did, he added. As a prospect, no pro spot is guaranteed for the Calgary Hitmen defenceman.

sa国际传媒淎t the end of the day, Luke still wants to be a professional hockey player and who your partner is shouldnsa国际传媒檛 have an effect on that,sa国际传媒� Pettinger said. sa国际传媒淚 hope one day itsa国际传媒檚 not Luke Prokop, the gay hockey player, itsa国际传媒檚 Luke Prokop, the great hockey player.sa国际传媒�

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sa国际传媒� luke prokop (@lukeprokop_6)

Prokop told Pettinger hesa国际传媒檇 like to join the agent and help do education campaigns for youth. That shows tremendous maturity for a 19-year-old, Pettinger said. Not only has he decided to carry the weight of being the first openly gay active player, hesa国际传媒檚 already thinking beyond himself by wanting to help others struggling through same situation he was in.

The agent doesnsa国际传媒檛 know what the eventual impact of the Prokopsa国际传媒檚 Twitter post will be, but for anyone who thought they couldnsa国际传媒檛 be gay and play pro hockey, a barrier has been broken.

sa国际传媒淚t is going to be a talking point for maybe his entire career, but someone has to do it first,sa国际传媒� Pettinger said. sa国际传媒淭here could be a minor hockey player in Victoria whosa国际传媒檚 gay and said, sa国际传媒榃ell I cansa国际传媒檛 play pro sports, theresa国际传媒檚 not a professional hockey player whosa国际传媒檚 gay,sa国际传媒� well now there is.sa国际传媒�

But for Prokop, Pettinger said sa国际传媒渋t was just 19 years of building up to speak his truth and thatsa国际传媒檚 really all it is. Itsa国际传媒檚 him being honest with himself and those around him and theresa国际传媒檚 something so pure about that.sa国际传媒�

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