"Dream come true. Thanks to everyone who has gotten me to this point. Can’t wait for the future with @PredsNHL #Smashville," tweeted Luke Prokop on Dec. 9, 2020. (@LukeProkop_6 on Twitter)

By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

WHL player, Nashville draft pick Luke Prokop comes out as gay

Jul 19, 2021 | 5:58 PM

A Nashville Predators prospect has come out as gay.

Luke Prokop posted on Twitter Monday morning that he is no longer scared to hide who he is.

No active NHL player has ever come out as gay. Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Carl Nassib in June became the first active NFL player to come out.

The 19-year-old Edmontonian was a third-round pick in the 2020 draft last fall. He is set to attend his first NHL camp after playing for the Calgary Hitmen last season in the Western Hockey League.

He signed an entry-level deal with the Predators last December.

Prokop says he hopes his example shows that 2SLGBTQ+ people are welcome in the hockey community.