The Hockey Player (2026)

This documentary tracks Canadian defenseman Luke Prokop, the first—and to this day only—active NHL-contracted player to publicly come out as gay. Raised in Edmonton within a rigid, often homophobic hockey tradition, and growing up without any openly gay figures in pro sports, Luke’s road to coming out was anything but simple or predictable. Set against a pro hockey world that has, at best, maintained an uneasy relationship with diversity, the film captures his intimate journey. It also reveals how his announcement sent shockwaves through his family, especially his father Al—Luke’s mentor and occasional coach—whose complex, deeply moving bond with his son becomes the film’s emotional anchor.