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Sports Desk • Hockey

Luke Prokop

Luke Prokop is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman born in Edmonton, Alberta.

Updated July 30, 20261 min readCited sources

Luke Prokop is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who made history in 2021 as the first player under NHL contract to publicly come out as gay.

What it is

Luke Prokop was born in Edmonton, Alberta, on May 6, 2002. He plays as a defenceman and was drafted 73rd overall by the Nashville Predators in the 2020 NHL entry draft. As of 2025–26, he plays for the Bakersfield Condors in the American Hockey League (AHL).

Why it matters

In July 2021, Prokop publicly came out as gay while under contract with an NHL team — a first for the league. His announcement was widely covered as a milestone for LGBTQ representation in hockey. He later became the first openly gay player to appear in an AHL game, though he has not yet played in the NHL.

Key details

Prokop is Canadian, born in Edmonton, Alberta. He is 24 years old as of July 2026. He was drafted by the Nashville Predators in 2020 and has since played in the AHL, signing with the Bakersfield Condors for the 2025–26 season. His visibility has made him a prominent figure in discussions about inclusion in men's professional hockey.

In short

  • First player under NHL contract to come out as gay (2021).
  • Canadian defenceman drafted by Nashville Predators in 2020.
  • Plays for Bakersfield Condors (AHL) as of 2025–26.
  • First openly gay player to appear in an AHL game.
Canadian angle

Prokop is Canadian, born in Edmonton, Alberta, and his public coming out made him a prominent Canadian figure in hockey and LGBTQ representation.

Quick questions

Who is Luke Prokop?
Luke Prokop is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman from Edmonton, Alberta. He was drafted by the Nashville Predators in 2020 and is known for publicly coming out as gay in 2021.
Is Luke Prokop the first openly gay NHL player?
Not exactly. He is the first player under NHL contract to come out publicly as gay, but he has not been the first openly gay player to play in an NHL game.
What team does Luke Prokop play for?
He plays for the Bakersfield Condors in the American Hockey League, with a contract for the 2025–26 season.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luke_Prokop
    Supports: Birth date, Canadian nationality, draft position, coming out, and AHL/Bakersfield Condors career notes.
  2. NHL.com — https://www.nhl.com/player/luke-prokop-8482091
    Supports: Birth date, birthplace, draft details, height, weight, and player identity.
  3. ESPN — https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/32267421/nhl-prospect-luke-prokop-tells-coming-out-story
    Supports: Coming out in 2021 and description as the only active out player signed to an NHL contract at the time.
  4. CBC Sports — https://www.cbc.ca/sports/podcasts/players-own-voice/pov-podcast-luke-prokop-1.7041058
    Supports: First player under NHL contract to come out and significance in pro hockey.
  5. The Globe and Mail — https://www.globeandmail.com/sports/hockey/article-luke-prokop-shines-a-light-on-his-trailblazing-journey-in-hockey/
    Supports: Bakersfield Condors/AHL status and context on his trailblazing role.