# Luke Prokop > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Luke_Prokop > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Luke_Prokop.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luke_Prokop > Source revision: 1357021043 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|Canadian ice hockey player (born 2002)}} {{distinguish|Luke Prokopec}} {{Use Canadian English|date=April 2026}} {{Use mdy dates|date=August 2021}} {{Infobox ice hockey player | image = Luke Prokop 2022.05.23.jpg | image_size = | caption = Prokop with the [Edmonton Oil Kings](/source/Edmonton_Oil_Kings) in 2022 | alt = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|2002|5|6}} | birth_place = [Edmonton](/source/Edmonton), [Alberta](/source/Alberta), Canada | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 5 | weight_lb = 220 | position = [Defence](/source/Defenceman_(ice_hockey)) | shoots = Right | league = [AHL](/source/American_Hockey_League) | team = [Bakersfield Condors](/source/Bakersfield_Condors) | prospect_team = | prospect_league = | former_teams = [Milwaukee Admirals](/source/Milwaukee_Admirals) | ntl_team = | draft = 73rd overall | draft_year = 2020 | draft_team = [Nashville Predators](/source/Nashville_Predators) | career_start = 2022 }} '''Luke Prokop''' (born May 6, 2002) is a Canadian professional [ice hockey](/source/ice_hockey) [defenceman](/source/defenceman) for the [Bakersfield Condors](/source/Bakersfield_Condors) of the [American Hockey League](/source/American_Hockey_League) (AHL). He was selected by the [Nashville Predators](/source/Nashville_Predators), 73rd overall, in the [2020 NHL entry draft](/source/2020_NHL_entry_draft). In 2021, Prokop [came out](/source/coming_out) as gay, becoming the first player under contract with an NHL team to do so.{{cite web |last=Kaplan |first=Emily |authorlink= Emily Kaplan |date=July 19, 2021 |title=Nashville Predators prospect Luke Prokop says he is gay, hopes living 'authentic life' helps NHL career |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/31843069/nashville-predators-prospect-luke-prokop-says-gay-hopes-living-authentic-life-helps-nhl-career |access-date=July 19, 2021 |work=[ESPN](/source/ESPN)}} ==Playing career== Prokop is from [Edmonton](/source/Edmonton), [Alberta](/source/Alberta). He became a fan of [Shea Weber](/source/Shea_Weber), a right-handed [defenceman](/source/defenceman), when he watched Weber playing [ice hockey at the 2010 Winter Olympics](/source/ice_hockey_at_the_2010_Winter_Olympics) for the [Canadian men's national ice hockey team](/source/Canadian_men's_national_ice_hockey_team).{{Cite web |last=Larkin |first=Matt |date=2022-01-17 |title=Luke Prokop Q&A: the Before and After of Coming Out as Gay |url=https://thehockeynews.com/news/luke-prokop-q-and-a-the-before-and-after-of-coming-out-as-gay |access-date=2023-11-21 |website=The Hockey News |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Luke Prokop closer than ever to Nashville Predators dream, 2 years after coming out as gay |url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/nhl/predators/2023/07/07/luke-prokop-gay-nhl-player-nashville-predators/70385320007/ |access-date=2023-08-24 |website=The Tennessean |language=en-US}} Prokop became a fan of Weber's team, the [Nashville Predators](/source/Nashville_Predators) of the [National Hockey League](/source/National_Hockey_League) (NHL), and began wearing jersey number 6 in his honour. Prokop attended the Pursuit of Excellence Hockey Academy in [Kelowna](/source/Kelowna), [British Columbia](/source/British_Columbia), playing in the [Canadian Sport School Hockey League](/source/Canadian_Sport_School_Hockey_League) (CSSHL). The [Calgary Hitmen](/source/Calgary_Hitmen) of the [Western Hockey League](/source/Western_Hockey_League) (WHL) selected Prokop with their first round selection, the seventh overall, of the 2017 WHL Bantam Draft.{{cite web |date=May 4, 2017 |title=Calgary Hitmen take defenceman Luke Prokop with seventh-overall pick in 2017 WHL bantam draft |url=https://calgaryherald.com/sports/hockey/calgary-hitmen-take-defenceman-luke-prokop-with-seventh-overall-pick-in-2017-whl-bantam-draft |access-date=July 19, 2021 |website=[Calgary Herald](/source/Calgary_Herald)}}. Prokop would spend one more season in the CSSHL with the Northern Alberta Xtreme (NAX) in [Devon](/source/Devon), [Alberta](/source/Alberta). He played for Canada's [national under-18 ice hockey team](/source/Canada_men's_national_under-18_ice_hockey_team) in the [2018 IIHF World U18 Championships](/source/2018_IIHF_World_U18_Championships).{{cite web |author=Medina |first=Alex |date=November 15, 2018 |title=Captain Canada: Luke Prokop |url=https://hitmenhockey.com/article/captain-canada |access-date=July 19, 2021 |website=[Calgary Hitmen](/source/Calgary_Hitmen)}}. The Predators selected Prokop in the third round, with the 73rd overall selection, of the [2020 NHL entry draft](/source/2020_NHL_entry_draft).{{cite news |title= NHL Draft Selections |date= October 8, 2020 |work= [Richmond Times-Dispatch](/source/Richmond_Times-Dispatch) |location= Richmond, Virginia |page= 5B }} In December 2020, he signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Predators,{{cite web |last=Gilbertson |first=Wes |date=December 9, 2020 |title=Hitmen defenceman Luke Prokop signs first contract with Predators |url=https://calgarysun.com/sports/hockey/nhl/hitmen-defenceman-luke-prokop-signs-first-contract-with-predators |access-date=July 19, 2021 |website=[Calgary Sun](/source/Calgary_Sun)}}{{Cite web |title=Predators Sign Luke Prokop to Three-Year, Entry-Level Contract |url=https://www.nhl.com/predators/news/predators-sign-luke-prokop-to-three-year-entry-level-contract/c-319779846 |access-date=2023-08-24 |website=NHL.com |date=December 9, 2020 |language=en-US}} and spent the 2020–21 season with Calgary. The Hitmen traded Prokop to the [Edmonton Oil Kings](/source/Edmonton_Oil_Kings) on October 13, 2021.{{cite web |date=October 13, 2021 |title=Predators prospect Prokop traded to Oil Kings |url=https://whl.ca/article/predators-prospect-prokop-traded-to-oil-kings |access-date=October 13, 2021 |website=[Western Hockey League](/source/Western_Hockey_League)}} He opened the [2022–23 season](/source/2022%E2%80%9323_ECHL_season) with the [Norfolk Admirals](/source/Norfolk_Admirals_(ECHL)) of the [ECHL](/source/ECHL).{{cite web|url=https://www.pilotonline.com/sports/norfolk-admirals/vp-sp-norfolk-admirals-season-20221020-rmspxwdexbcr5oj4knlwynog7a-story.html |title=Norfolk Admirals aim for first winning season since 2014 |publisher=Pilotonline.com |date=2022-10-20 |accessdate=2023-01-20}} On October 25, 2022, the [Seattle Thunderbirds](/source/Seattle_Thunderbirds) traded three conditional WHL draft picks to Edmonton for Prokop.{{cite web|url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/juniors/article/thunderbirds-acquire-luke-prokops-whl-rights-from-oil-kings/ |title=Thunderbirds acquire Luke Prokop's WHL rights from Oil Kings |publisher=Sportsnet.ca |date=2022-10-25 |accessdate=2023-01-20}} Prokop began the [2023–24 season](/source/2023%E2%80%9324_ECHL_season) with the [Atlanta Gladiators](/source/Atlanta_Gladiators) of the ECHL. He scored five points in nine games with the Gladiators before being called up to their [AHL](/source/AHL) affiliate team, the [Milwaukee Admirals](/source/Milwaukee_Admirals). On November 17, 2023, he became the first openly gay individual to play in the American Hockey League, a significant milestone for LGBT player representation in men's professional hockey.{{cite web |title=Milwaukee Admirals’ Luke Prokop becomes first openly gay player to appear in AHL game |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5067133/2023/11/17/luke-prokop-ahl-gay-player-admirals/ |website=The Athletic |publisher=The New York Times |access-date=28 November 2023 |date=17 November 2023}} He went on to play the majority of the season in the ECHL, where he finished as Atlanta's top-scoring defenceman and 6th best overall with 28 points over 55 games. In the [2024–25 season](/source/2024%E2%80%9325_AHL_season), Prokop appeared in 31 games with the Admirals and scored 4 points. At the conclusion of his entry-level contract with the Predators, Prokop was released as a free agent. On August 11, 2025, he was signed to a one-year contract with the [Bakersfield Condors](/source/Bakersfield_Condors), the AHL affiliate of the [Edmonton Oilers](/source/Edmonton_Oilers), for the [2025-26 season](/source/2025-26_AHL_season).{{citeweb| url = https://www.bakersfieldcondors.com/news/condors-sign-four-to-ahl-deals-3/ | title = Condors sign four to AHL deals | publisher = [Bakersfield Condors](/source/Bakersfield_Condors) | date = August 11, 2025 | accessdate = August 11, 2025 }} ==Personal life== During his childhood, playing hockey was his main extracurricular focus. At 12–13 years old, he started to realize that he was a "good hockey player" and decided he wanted to make a career out of it. His older brother, Josh, is also an ice hockey player. The [Calgary Hitmen](/source/Calgary_Hitmen) signed Josh in September 2018.{{cite news |title= Silvertips notebook: Everett practicing in Bellingham – The team heads up north this week due to a scheduling conflict at Angel of the Winds Arena|date= September 26, 2018 | work= [The Daily Herald](/source/The_Everett_Herald) |location= Everett, Washington }} They both spent time playing with Calgary, before Luke was traded to the [Edmonton Oil Kings](/source/Edmonton_Oil_Kings).{{cite web |author=Medina |first=Alex |date=January 22, 2019 |title=Super Prokop Bros. |url=https://hitmenhockey.com/article/super-prokop-bros |access-date=July 19, 2021 |website=[Calgary Hitmen](/source/Calgary_Hitmen)}} His parents own a golf course in Edmonton, Alberta (where Prokop is from) where he frequently visits. On July 19, 2021, Prokop came out as [gay](/source/gay), becoming the first player under contract with an NHL team to do so.{{cite web |author=Hernandez |first=Joe |date=2021-07-19 |title=NHL Prospect Luke Prokop Makes History As League's First Gay Player |url=https://www.npr.org/2021/07/19/1017915128/luke-prokop-becomes-the-first-nhl-player-under-contract-to-come-out-as-gay |access-date=July 19, 2021 |website=[NPR](/source/NPR)}}{{Cite web |title=Prokop reflects on year since coming out as gay |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/luke-prokop-reflects-on-year-since-coming-out-as-gay/c-334995092 |access-date=2023-08-24 |website=NHL.com |language=en-US}} ==Career statistics== ===Regular season and playoffs=== {| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; width:60em" |- style="background:#e0e0e0;" ! colspan="3" style="background:#fff;"| ! rowspan="99" style="background:#fff;"| ! colspan="5"|[Regular season](/source/Regular_season) ! rowspan="99" style="background:#fff;"| ! colspan="5"|[Playoffs](/source/Playoffs) |- style="background:#e0e0e0;" ! [Season](/source/Season_(sports)) ! Team ! League ! GP ! [G](/source/Goal_(ice_hockey)) ! [A](/source/Assist_(ice_hockey)) ! [Pts](/source/Point_(ice_hockey)) ! [PIM](/source/Penalty_(ice_hockey)) ! GP ! G ! A ! Pts ! PIM |- style="text-align:center;" | [2017–18](/source/2017%E2%80%9318_WHL_season) | [Calgary Hitmen](/source/Calgary_Hitmen) | [WHL](/source/Western_Hockey_League) | 14 || 0 || 2 || 2 || 6 | — || — || — || — || — |- style="text-align:center; background:#f0f0f0;" | [2018–19](/source/2018%E2%80%9319_WHL_season) | Calgary Hitmen | WHL | 62 || 1 || 9 || 10 || 12 | 11 || 0 || 4 || 4 || 0 |- style="text-align:center;" | [2019–20](/source/2019%E2%80%9320_WHL_season) | Calgary Hitmen | WHL | 59 || 4 || 19 || 23 || 30 | — || — || — || — || — |- style="text-align:center; background:#f0f0f0;" | [2020–21](/source/2020%E2%80%9321_WHL_season) | Calgary Hitmen | WHL | 15 || 2 || 4 || 6 || 14 | — || — || — || — || — |- style="text-align:center; | [2021–22](/source/2021%E2%80%9322_WHL_season) | Calgary Hitmen | WHL | 3 || 1 || 1 || 2 || 4 | — || — || — || — || — |- style="text-align:center; background:#f0f0f0;" | 2021–22 | [Edmonton Oil Kings](/source/Edmonton_Oil_Kings) | WHL | 55 || 10 || 23 || 33 || 34 | 19 || 4 || 12 || 16 || 4 |- style="text-align:center;" | [2022–23](/source/2022%E2%80%9323_ECHL_season) | [Norfolk Admirals](/source/Norfolk_Admirals_(ECHL)) | [ECHL](/source/ECHL) | 8 || 1 || 0 || 1 || 6 | — || — || — || — || — |- style="text-align:center; background:#f0f0f0;" | [2022–23](/source/2022%E2%80%9323_WHL_season) | [Seattle Thunderbirds](/source/Seattle_Thunderbirds) | WHL | 43 || 4 || 17 || 21 || 20 | 19 || 1 || 4 || 5 || 6 |- style="text-align:center;" | [2023–24](/source/2023%E2%80%9324_ECHL_season) | [Atlanta Gladiators](/source/Atlanta_Gladiators) | ECHL | 55 || 5 || 23 || 28 || 16 | — || — || — || — || — |- style="text-align:center; background:#f0f0f0;" | [2023–24](/source/2023%E2%80%9324_AHL_season) | [Milwaukee Admirals](/source/Milwaukee_Admirals) | [AHL](/source/American_Hockey_League) | 9 || 0 || 2 || 2 || 6 | — || — || — || — || — |- style="text-align:center;" | [2024–25](/source/2024%E2%80%9325_AHL_season) | Milwaukee Admirals | AHL | 31 || 1 || 3 || 4 || 6 | — || — || — || — || — |- style="text-align:center; background:#f0f0f0;" | [2025–26](/source/2025%E2%80%9326_AHL_season) | [Bakersfield Condors](/source/Bakersfield_Condors) | AHL | 42 || 3 || 8 || 11 || 20 | — || — || — || — || — |- style="background:#e0e0e0;" ! colspan="3" | AHL totals ! 82 !! 4 !! 13 !! 17 !! 32 ! — !! — !! — !! — !! — |} ===International=== {| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" ID="Table3" style="text-align:center; width:40em" |- style="background:#e0e0e0;" ! Year ! Team ! Event ! Result ! rowspan="99" style="background:#fff;"| ! GP ! G ! A ! Pts ! PIM |- | [2018](/source/2018_World_U-17_Hockey_Challenge) | Canada White | [U17](/source/World_U-17_Hockey_Challenge) | 6th | 5 || 0 || 1 || 1 || 0 |- style="background:#e0e0e0;" ! colspan="4" |Junior totals ! 5 !! 0 !! 1 !! 1 !! 0 |} ==Awards and achievements== {| class="wikitable" ! Award ! Year ! Ref |- ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="4" |[WHL](/source/Western_Hockey_League) |- | [Ed Chynoweth Cup](/source/Ed_Chynoweth_Cup) | [2022](/source/2021%E2%80%9322_WHL_season), [2023](/source/2022%E2%80%9323_WHL_season) | {{cite web|url=https://whl.ca/article/oil-kings-capture-ed-chynoweth-cup-with-shutout-victory-in-game-6-of-2022-whl-championship |title=Oil Kings capture Ed Chynoweth Cup with shutout victory in Game 6 of 2022 WHL Championship |website=whl.ca |date=June 14, 2022 |access-date=October 23, 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://whl.ca/article/thunderbirds-claim-ed-chynoweth-cup-with-game-5-victory-in-2023-whl-championship-series-presented-by-nutrien |title=Thunderbirds claim Ed Chynoweth Cup with Game 5 victory in 2023 WHL Championship Series presented by Nutrien |website=whl.ca |date=May 20, 2023 |access-date=May 21, 2023}} |- |} ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== *{{Ice hockey stats|elite=201923|hockeydb=211141}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Prokop, Luke}} Category:2002 births Category:Living people Category:21st-century Canadian LGBTQ people Category:21st-century Canadian sportsmen Category:Atlanta Gladiators players Category:Bakersfield Condors players Category:Calgary Hitmen players Category:Canadian expatriate ice hockey players in the United States Category:Canadian gay sportsmen Category:Canadian ice hockey defencemen Category:Edmonton Oil Kings players Category:Ice hockey people from Alberta Category:Ice hockey people from Edmonton Category:LGBTQ ice hockey players Category:Milwaukee Admirals players Category:Nashville Predators draft picks Category:Norfolk Admirals (ECHL) players Category:Seattle Thunderbirds players --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Luke Prokop](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luke_Prokop) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luke_Prokop?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.