Hockey culture, traditionally overrun by straight white men, may have changed.
Crave's new hit series, Heated Rivalry, is a six-episode series with storylines about what it could look like for queer hockey players.
The NHL has yet to have an out player; there have been minor league players like Luke Prokop and Harrison Browne, the first-ever transgender pro hockey player.
Yet with 32 teams and 700-plus players across the league, there has still not been an NHL player who has been openly gay.
It asks the question why is men’s hockey so small in diversity.
Krista Kerr is a mom of a young hockey player who identifies as non-binary.
“It’s almost non-existent in boys’ hockey (queer representation) from house league to all the way up," she said. "For female hockey, like the PWHL, they have set queer nights, so each club has their own night, which is huge and loud, and it continues through regular games.”
The NHL has similar set nights, except they do not come often, and are criticized by some players and fans, which leads to the league not wanting to continue having these nights.
“My kid started in Grade 6 in house league, as they were starting to decide what their presentation was going to be and shifting their pronouns to they/them. We had some fairly good discussions with coaches and parents about using pronouns. We didn’t have any open resistance,” Kerr said.
Her experience reflects a pattern within youth sports: the higher the level of competition, the narrower the margin for difference. While house league hockey often prioritizes participation and development, rep programs introduce performance pressure, heightened scrutiny, and traditions that can make inclusivity feel secondary.
“The next year, they moved into a rep program, and we briefed them on the desire for my child to be referred to as they/them, and that’s where we had a little more resistance, but it was more of an individual basis,” Kerr said.
This begs the question of what the difference is between house and rep, and if it becomes more small-minded as players move up.
“That’s when we decided to start looking into organizations and the policies that they have in place, and we ran with what worked for my kid,” Kerr said.
For many families navigating hockey systems, acceptance often comes down to trial and error.
Kerr’s approach highlights how marginalized players are frequently forced to assess safety and belonging on their own, rather than relying on consistent league-wide protections.
“I hope it isn’t a disingenuous embracing of the new attention and the potential for new audience and players in a sport that is struggling in enrolment. When you have an opportunity to bring in new people, I hope they will genuinely embrace it, but I have my doubts,” Kerr said.
Her thoughts on the rise in queer talk in hockey are similar to how many people feel. But there is concern that it's another trend for organizations to profit from, only to throw it away when it becomes too controversial for fans.
Koltyn Milne is a long-time hockey fan and player.
“Being inclusive, accepting everybody for who they are. People are talented and have skills no matter their identity,” Milne said.
Hockey has historically been smaller-minded than other sports.
“I can't remember a time playing hockey where there has been someone who has come out. I can see why someone would be scared. There is a lot of toxic masculinity within hockey and sports,” Milne said.
Attitudes among teams, locker rooms and spaces vary league to league.
“The leagues can say they're accepting of everybody, and it's great to say from a PR standpoint, but I think there needs to be some training and education behind it,” Milne said.
He recognizes the new interest in the sport because of the recent craze of Heated Rivalry and the focused attention it brought to the NHL and hockey.
“I think hockey and sports in general bring people together, people from all walks of life. It doesn’t matter what team you cheer for; you know in that moment people are there for the love of the sport and the game.” Milne said.
Bucky Kirkpatrick has been a part of the hockey community for a long time and now coaches at the U18 level.
As a coach, he says it's important to be a leader for the team and guide players in the right direction on and off the ice.
“All of my players at the beginning of the year are forewarned of what is expected of them and the ramifications if they step out of line, and how they’ll be penalized on the ice but also penalized off the ice,” Kirkpatrick said.
It's important to set guidelines at the beginning of each season with players, so they are reminded, he said.
“There is a zero-tolerance policy for homophobia, racism, and abuse of officials,” Kirkpatrick said.
By treating off-ice conduct with the same seriousness as in-game behaviour, coaches like Kirkpatrick set clear expectations early.
Being a hockey coach for 25 years raises a question of what has changed in terms of policy and player interactions.
Kirkpatrick said that every five years, he is required to renew his credentials, which include hockey courses like backchecking and contact.
“I just renewed my credentials last year, and it had courses on inclusiveness and diversity in the sport. It’s become more open and more inclusive,” Kirkpatrick said.
For queer athletes, inclusivity is less about league initiatives and who they feel comfortable around, what spaces feel safe, and where they can play without hesitation.
Kaitlyn Coulter is a queer woman who has been playing hockey her entire life.
When it comes to what queer inclusivity looks like to her, she said, “inclusivity, not being able to have any issues playing, just being respectful to each other.
“Hockey in general isn’t really focused on the queer aspect, but with women's hockey, I see it differently because of how many women play that are out and proud and loud about it,” Coulter said.
Which is true, looking at all-star players like Marie-Philip Poulin, recently named captain of Team Canada 2026 for the Olympic women's hockey team, and her wife, Laura Stacey, who are teammates on the Montreal Victoire.
“In the men’s world, and when you’re a guy, you're supposed to be rough and tough, and it creates this stigma. Women in general are just softer and more accepting. I think there’s just too much stigma in men’s hockey compared to women’s,” Coulter said.
As pop culture intersects with sports, representation off the ice may help reshape what is possible on it. Shows like Heated Rivalry offer imagined futures that many hope will one day be reflected in real locker rooms.
“I’m really hoping that the Heated Rivalry series will create a safe space for players to realize that it is okay to play hockey and be rough and tough and be gay,” Coulter said.
So, with all this new attention, the question is whether the NHL will capitalize on change or if it will continue in the ways that it has for so long. For now, the question remains whether the NHL is ready to move beyond performative inclusion or if the future of queer hockey will continue to be imagined.
Heated Rivalry may be fictional, but the absence it highlights is not.
