The Seattle Krakens Are Marking A Historic Moment For The NHL
In a recent ESPN.com article, Seattle Kraken's assistant athletic trainers, Justin Rogers, made a significant announcement by publicly sharing his identity as a gay member of an NHL team's bench, marking a historic moment for the league.
The story delves into his personal journey toward feeling comfortable enough to open up about his identity, with Kraken general manager Ron Francis being the first person Rogers confided in.
"I think it was more at that point; he felt that it was kind of time to tell his story," Francis stated. "I said, 'Let's figure out how to help you do that.'"
Rogers hopes that by sharing his story, he can inspire others within the hockey community to be more open about their identities.
Positive Impact of Rogers' Announcement
Justin Rogers' decision to publicly announce his sexual identity is a significant moment for the NHL, especially following recent controversies that negatively impacted the league's relationship with the LGBTQIA+ community.
Last season saw players and teams abandon Pride Jersey warm-up sweaters on separate occasions. This summer, commissioner Gary Bettman implemented a ban on specialty sweaters, and in October, there was an initial ban on players using Pride tape on their sticks, which was later overturned after substantial backlash.
Source: Markerzone
| POLL | ||
Do you think Justin Rogers' decision to come out as openly gay on an NHL team's bench is a positive step for the league? | ||
| Yes | 136 | 52.1 % |
| No | 125 | 47.9 % |
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