'That Was One Of The Only Memories I Have Of That Day': Luke Prokop Received Supportive Text From Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews After Becoming First Openly Gay Player Under NHL Contract
Luke Prokop says there was one message that stood out when he came out as gay back in 2021.
Prokop joined 'The Players Own Voice' on Tuesday and looked back on the day he came out. He says one text message, in particular, stood out that day, and it came from the Maple Leafs star forward Auston Matthews.
"He sent me a really nice message the day I came out," Prokop said. "That was one of the only memories I have of that day because it was just so long and so exhausting. But I was out eating lunch and just got a buzz on my phone and it was from a random number. And just at the end, I saw AM34 and being a hockey kid I knew exactly who that was.
"So that was really cool to see just the messaging I was getting from NHL players, especially as high profile as he is, just to make sure that I knew that what I did was right and good for the hockey community and good for the game."
Prokop was drafted in the third round (73rd overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft by the Nashville Predators and is currently playing for their AHL affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals.
He's the first openly gay player to be under NHL contract after signing an entry-level deal with Nashville on Dec. 9, 2020.
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