The Kraken are among the organizations and businesses supporting the event. Team broadcaster and radio play-by-play announcer Everett Fitzhugh will call the championship game on Sunday.
"We see this as an opportunity for our fans and just the larger Seattle Community to feel included in our hockey community," said Kyle Boyd, the Kraken's director of youth and hockey development. "I think that's what the SPHA, the work that they're doing, is really focused on is ultimately inclusion. And we get to build our hockey community right now in real time and for everyone to feel like they can join in and be a part of it, participate, play, watch, cheer, learn a little bit about our organization, our players, but ultimately feel like they have a place in the game."
The coronavirus pandemic put a crimp in the inaugural Pride Classic last year, forcing organizers to scale back plans to 56 players and four teams. Social mixers and large gatherings weren't allowed due to pandemic-related government restrictions.
This year, 146 participants will skate on 10 teams. More than half of the players this year identify as LGBTQ+ whereas a quarter identified that way last year.
"So we're really excited, obviously, that we've created this space for queer people, for queer hockey players, to show up and have fun," Gayle said.