The latest step for inclusivity in hockey
Ice hockey has — since its inception — been a sport largely unavailable to many people due to a plethora of different circumstances involving the culture and general nature of the sport. Oftentimes, hockey can be inaccessible due to climate: people being priced out of the equipment needed to play, or expectations of race and sexuality taking over the ice. These issues have kept hockey lagging behind other major leagues in terms of popularity and inclusivity.
Entering the 2010s, teams and players in the National Hockey League (NHL) headed a movement to create the change necessary to grow hockey and spread it to more people. Beginning with the San Jose Sharks in 2011, NHL teams began slowly hosting Pride-themed events which promoted the sport to the LGBTQ+ community through the slogan “Hockey is for Everyone”. During these events, some teams would create special warm-up jerseys before the game which players would wear along with the choice to also use Rainbow Pride Tape from the company Pride Tape as a symbol of support. Players such as Braden Holtby, the starting goalie for the Washington Capitals, were vocal and early supporters. Holtby in particular has regularly attended Washington D.C.’s annual pride parades since 2016, also becoming an NHL LGBTQ+ ambassador.
“It creates more of an opportunity to create good, to do things that means something to yourself and you think that are beneficial to society,” Holtby said. “Hopefully, every year coming we do more and more to create an effect.”
The work to create an inclusive league is far from over though. The progress made through these NHL programs hit a roadblock in 2023 as complaints from some players due to religious beliefs would lead to a complete ban of players wearing themed jerseys or using Pride Tape during warmups. This change sparked significant backlash from fans and players alike causing the new policy on specifically the use of pride tape to be repealed in Oct. 2023.
Morgan Rielly, Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman, voiced his displeasure with the NHL’s decision.
“I wish players had the right to do more and be more involved… I'm going to continue to be involved in the community and offer support to those communities and those groups that want that, need that,” Rielly said.
This step back for the league led to several years of maintaining a status quo to avoid upsetting many hockey fans which were less than receptive to the programs the NHL advertised. Many players such as Holtby received hate on social media for his comments and public support of LGBTQ+ rights and inclusion. In June 2025, the show “Heated Rivalry” was first announced, creating a new buzz and bringing a vocal and supportive fanbase to men’s hockey. Centered around two closeted hockey players, it was a daring subversion from hockey’s usual identity as a masculine sport and helped send a message that being gay was acceptable in the sport.
Hudson Williams, the star of “Heated Rivalry”, said in a recent interview on Sirius XM Radio that many closeted players have reached out anonymously.
“They’re reaching out to [author Rachel Reid], who will then relay these lovely, anonymous emails. Sometimes they’re just reaching out privately through Instagram. Those ones are the ones that really just kind of hit you and go, ‘Oh, this is a fun show. It’s celebratory.’ But also, sometimes, it’s just hitting people right in the nerve,” Williams said.
The NHL has often lagged behind other sports in viewership and overall popularity nationally. The recent decade of progress has brought more fans and positivity to the sport allowing people to be comfortable with who they are.