Prokop puts focus on hockey after coming out, hopes to impress Predators

Luke Prokop
said he will be able to concentrate on his hockey future less than a month after the Nashville Predators defenseman prospect became the first player under contract to an NHL team to come out as gay.

"I can just go on the ice now and just focus on being a hockey player and try to make the Nashville Predators organization," Prokop said Wednesday in Nashville, where he's participating in Predators development camp.
Prokop announced on social media July 19 that he was gay, receiving immediate support from the NHL, the Predators and multiple NHL players. He said he also received messages of encouragement from players in the Western Hockey League, where he has played the past four seasons for Calgary, scoring six points (two goals, four assists) in 15 games last season.
"The guys here have been fantastic," Prokop said. "I've had a few guys come up to me and just talk about it and say they were really proud of me."
Prokop, selected by the Predators in the third round (No. 73) of the 2020 NHL Draft. signed a three-year, entry-level contract with Nashville on Dec. 9.
"I didn't want to have to be worrying about that for too long, so I was happy and honored to sign my contract and move forward," Prokop said. "The next step would be either making Nashville or having the next really good junior season, and then kind of develop through Milwaukee (of the American Hockey League). That's kind of the next step for me, just going back to junior this next year, having a really strong season and showing the organization what I can do here at camp."

The 19-year-old's announcement went well beyond the hockey world, with Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Elton John calling Prokop the day after he came out.
"We just had a really good conversation," Prokop said. "He congratulated me, just asked me how the day was, how the support was, and then he thanked me for being brave and coming out. It was a really cool conversation."
Prokop said he also has gotten great insight from Brock McGillis, a former Ontario Hockey League and semiprofessional goalie who came out as gay in November 2016.
"I'd spoken a lot with Brock McGillis throughout my whole process of coming out, and he was really good in lending me some advice to do with media, what's going to happen the day of, the day after, the month after, year after," Prokop said. "He's just a really good source I have, and a friend, I'll say, as well. We're in touch daily, so I'm very thankful to have him as well."
Photos courtesy: Nashville Predators