Sports • Ice Hockey

Luke Prokop

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

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Luke Prokop is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman from Edmonton, Alberta. He was selected by the Nashville Predators in the 2020 NHL entry draft and, in 2021, became the first player under contract with an NHL team to publicly come out as gay. He has played professionally in the American Hockey League (AHL), including for the Bakersfield Condors.

Early life and junior career

Luke Prokop was born on May 6, 2002, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. He developed as a defenceman in Canadian junior hockey and was drafted by the Nashville Predators in the third round (73rd overall) of the 2020 NHL entry draft.

Professional career

Prokop has played professionally in North American minor leagues, including the AHL. By 2025, he was signed with the Bakersfield Condors, the AHL affiliate of the Edmonton Oilers, for the 2025–26 season.

Coming out and public profile

In July 2021, Prokop publicly came out as gay while under contract with an NHL team, becoming the first player under NHL contract to do so. His announcement was widely covered as a milestone for LGBTQ representation in hockey.

Significance in hockey

Prokop's visibility has made him a notable figure in discussions about inclusion in men's professional hockey. He later became the first openly gay individual to play in the AHL.

Key facts

Luke Prokop is a Canadian ice hockey defenceman from Edmonton, Alberta.
He was drafted by the Nashville Predators in the third round of the 2020 NHL entry draft.
In 2021, he became the first player under NHL contract to publicly come out as gay.
He has played in the AHL, including for the Bakersfield Condors.
He is the first openly gay player to appear in the AHL.

🍁

Canadian context

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

Frequently asked 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.

How old is Luke Prokop?

He was born on May 6, 2002, which makes him 24 years old as of July 2026.

What team does Luke Prokop play for?

He has played for the Bakersfield Condors in the American Hockey League. Sources in the search results also note a 2025–26 contract with Bakersfield.

What happened to Luke Prokop?

In 2021, he publicly came out as gay while under contract with an NHL team. Later, he continued his professional career in the AHL and became the first openly gay player to appear in that league.

Is Luke Prokop the first openly gay NHL player?

Not exactly. He is widely described as 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.

References

Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luke_Prokop
Supports: Birth date, Canadian nationality, draft position, coming out, and AHL/Bakersfield Condors career notes.
NHL.com — https://www.nhl.com/player/luke-prokop-8482091
Supports: Birth date, birthplace, draft details, height, weight, and player identity.
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.
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.
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.