Vancouver Canucks forward Brock Boeser holding his stick with Pride tape. Credit: Vancouver Canucks on Twitter/X.
There's a lot to be said about how sports — particularly professional sports — treat gay and trans people. Even with the rise of queer-inclusive teams and leagues within hockey, it can be hard to feel safe or appreciated when engaging with the sport. Yet, plenty of leagues and teams include Pride games on their list of specialty-themed games held throughout the season.
Pride games are one such themed game that teams hold to celebrate fans and community members of different background and identities, in this case, their 2SLGBTQIA+ fans and community. Most of the time, they get involved with local 2SLGBTQIA+ organizations and performers to spotlight at the game. They metaphorically paint the arena rainbow and tell their gay fans how much they love and care about them.
Does this actually show they're dedicated to making hockey a more inclusive sport? Who's to say.
I attended two Pride games this past season, an NHL game and a BCHL game. These games were held about a month apart and in two completely different leagues with different budgets, but overall, they celebrated the same thing. Going to these games brought on thoughts and feelings as a queer person that are hard to say are resolved even now, especially with the fact that these were my first Pride hockey games I've gone to.
I went to the Vancouver Canucks Pride game on January 21st, 2026, with a few friends. Vancouver is known for their large queer community, so it wasn't a surprise to see how many people showed up for this game. They had their pride sign out front, music, and plenty of 2SLGBTQIA+ organizations set up on the concourse.
What I noticed past just the rainbow lighting is the uptick in security. I've been to Canucks games before, and there have never been this many security guards. They checked bags, and as we walked through the metal detectors, I had a sense of unease. It was not enough to ruin anything, but the heavy reminder of why they would need more security on a Pride night lingered, even as we rushed to the glass to show off our signs.
I regret not heading to the concourse to look at the tables that night in more detail. Truthfully, I was not having the greatest time and didn't want to drag my friends with me, so I didn't have to go alone. However, I knew of some of the featured tables there. I had heard of Cutting Edges before, the Vancouver-based LGBTQ+ hockey club that started three decades ago with a mission to help promote a better, more inclusive environment for 2SLGBTQIA+ people in hockey. They’ve been a constant at Pride events – especially sports Pride nights – and host their own tournaments alongside their regular beer league games. I also knew of the 2SLGBTQIA+ police nonprofit they had on the same concourse. There's always something unsettling when I think about them being at Pride events. With the history of police violence towards the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, there is plenty of discourse surrounding police presence at these events, especially during Pride month. They’re not there to be cops, at least not explicitly. The organization is meant as support for queer people in law enforcement, but can one truly separate and compartmentalize the “Gay Cop” label? It always leaves a bitter taste in my mouth.
The Canucks promoted and platformed plenty of LGBTQ+ artists for the entire night. From Stephen Scaccia as the anthem singer to Connor Nelson as the intermission entertainment to John Ferrie, an artist who was painting live the entire night. The Canucks always make sure to name and link whoever they bring to their specialty nights, with the information being readily accessible even after the night has passed. They make sure that these artists are rightfully spotlighted, but you can't help but wonder why they can't do this at any non-special game as well.
There are complicated feelings when it comes to large organizations and companies celebrating Pride. The Canucks do more than most, but it still doesn't negate the complex feelings you get as you watch players skate out during warm-ups with a lack of rainbow tape on their sticks, or when you notice that this is the only time sports teams will even mention the 2SLGBTQIA+ community outside of Pride month. You remember that being queer in these spaces is only something to be shown off during the “acceptable” times or situations. It makes me feel high off a feeling of celebration, but strange all the same.
So, I go to a junior hockey Pride night.
Coquitlam Express starting lineup in Pride jerseys. Credit: Me
It was the Coquitlam Express' Pride Night on February 27th. They were the first team in the BCHL to even host a Pride Night back in 2023 and are still one of the only teams to host one now. You don't usually hear of a junior hockey club hosting a Pride Night — there's certainly something to be said about that — but I dragged my friend along, and we went to this comparatively smaller game.
It was hard to miss the fact that they were having a Pride Night due to the significant amount of promotion on social media. Showing off Pride jerseys, LGBTQ+ organizations tabling, the likes. It was definitely a much smaller scale, and you could tell. The BCHL is a well-known junior league, but there's no big arena or party like the WHL or NHL; there's just my friend and I sitting in our seats after we stopped and looked at the tables.
There weren't high expectations for this Pride night, yet it was mainly the little things that made it such a great experience. The team doesn't have a high budget, but they were wearing (a little tacky) pride jerseys, replaced all the usual lights with rainbow ones, and gave out little rainbow flags to kids and other attendees.
Even now, I remember my friend turning to me and saying how great it is to see kids run around with these Pride flags.
I don’t believe that every single player I saw play in these games fully cares about 2SLGBTQIA+ issues. But they still taped up their stick and put on those jerseys and haven’t said horrible things about gay people online. An incredibly low bar, yet somehow needed in these times. These games are more or less for money. Good intent or not, organizations like the Canucks know they’ll profit from Pride nights, both financially and in brownie points. Maybe I’m glad to give those brownie points out if it means they’ll continue to publicly show support for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.
As much as I love to criticize how large organizations and companies treat pride, I am happy to see them doing it at all. In times like these, more and more people are becoming comfortable with not even pandering to gay people at all. They'll drop the Pride games and the posts because they know they can get away with it.
The Vancouver Canucks are expected to host a Pride game, but at the end of the day, they are not obligated to. The Coquitlam Express isn't even expected to have one at all, and still goes out of its way to have one.
A change is needed within hockey culture and the way it treats its queer community. As a trans person, I'll always feel weird about how sports leagues will pander to people like me without helping in ways that matter. I know they can do more. It’s easy to get stuck in a loop of despair and doomscrolling about how new rules and legislation are keeping us out of something we love.
But I also remember seeing kids and their parents wave rainbow flags as a team skates around in jerseys with trans Pride colours on them, and think that's still something. Hopefully, it will become more.
Requested by Anon: Can you do a cute and fluffy Tyson jost imagine?!?! Maybe something after the wjc win agains Russian and him being excited for you to be there for the rest of the tournament?!?! Thanks so much I love your writing ❤
*Thank you so much!! Enjoy! :)*
Word count: 981
The oomph that left your body when a hundred and ninety pound Tyson Jost threw his whole weight at you was worth it, the sweat and smell that assaulted you… meh, not so much. How you managed to catch him before he hit the showers after that game against Russia, you’re still not sure but here you were, amongst the throngs of Team Canada loved ones, hugging your sweaty boyfriend.
“We won!!” he said excitedly, bouncing from one skate to the other, “did you see me?” he asked you like a ten year old child after her first ballet recital, “did you see me?”
“I did,” you laughed, confirming that yes, you did see him, “I saw you go zoom zoom from one end of the rink to the other,” you joked, “did you hear me cheer?”
For a minute, he looked like he was constipated, probably debating whether he should lie and tell you he heard you or not. Deciding that you should let him out of his misery, you chuckled, “Ty, I was seated so far up, of course you didn’t hear me.”
That brought the grin back to his face, “one game down, six more to go!” he said before clarifying, “because I refuse to have worked out this hard over the holidays not to make it to the medals round,” he laughed.
You pushed him away with a finger on his shoulder, “yeah, yeah,” you said, covering your nose, “at this rate, you won’t be going to the medals round if you continue to smell like that.”
He scrunched his nose, “how does my smell affect that?”
You cackled, “all the other teams would wanna defeat you if they can smell you.”
“Ha,” he said, chest rising from the bravado he’s putting up, “you say that but you haven’t smelled the worst,” he laughed, “I,” he said, putting a hand against his chest, “will faint from smelling them.”
“Fiiiine,” you whined, “now go shower so we can get out of here,” you pushed him to the direction of the dressing room, “Lord knows I can’t stand the smell of old socks and jockstraps anymore.”
Tyson nodded, still feeling giddy after the win, “okay, wait for me so we can join the family after,” he said, before running to the lockers, you looking after him with a smile on your face.
Damn if you weren’t proud of that fluff ball.
You impatiently tapped your foot while waiting for him, watching some fans come and go after mingling with their favorite players. You were even close to asking for Dylan Strome’s autograph before deciding against it. Tyson can just get it for you any time anyway and if he can’t – or won’t – there is still a few more days left of the cup.
You smiled to yourself when you realized Tyson still doesn’t know that you’re staying for the rest of the competition. When he was selected to be part of this team, he gave you a hard time for only agreeing to come to one game.
“Babe,” you told him while he was lounging on your bed at your apartment, “I have family to go home to,” you had to remind him.
“But,” he pouted, bottom lip jutting out, “it’s the World Junior Cup!” he rolled on his stomach and kicked his legs, “only the really really good guys get to play at that level,” he stopped kicking and glared at you, “not even your Tyler Seguin got chosen to represent Canada for the under-twenties. Ever.”
You gaped at him, “he was injury-riddled and you know it!” you pointed at him with your index finger, “don’t ever bring that up again,” you threatened, “and speaking of that ‘level’,” you started, making air quotation marks with your fingers, “can I please be the ghost of Christmas past and remind you that you were captain of the under-eighteen team last year and you got chosen for the under-twenty this year,” you said, “so I’m pretty sure you’ll be there again next year,” you grinned, “unless you get recalled by Colorado then I’ll just see you at the Pepsi Center.”
He let out a sigh, “there’s no arguing with you, is there?”
You laughed, “can we please just be thankful that, at least, I’m going to be there for your opener?”
He didn’t have to know that you already booked your flight and that you were staying the whole duration of the cup. What are you if not a supportive girlfriend, eh?
“What’s with the smile?” Tyson’s voice broke your thoughts, standing in front of you looking and smelling fresh.
You shrugged, “nothing. Ready?”
He hoisted his bag on his shoulder and put a protective arm around you, leading you out of the hallway, “what time are you leaving tomorrow?”
You bit your bottom lip to stop from smiling but figured now is a good time as any, “leaving for?”
“Home.”
“Oh,” you said, faking a surprised tone, “I forgot about that,” looking up to glance at him, “I’m not going home.”
Tyson stopped walking to look at you, “huh?”
“I’m already booked at my hotel for a few days and then a hotel in Montréal for the medals,” you grinned at the stunned look on his face, “surprise!”
“You liar,” he whispered.
He said it with an accusatory voice that made you laugh, “what? Did you really think I’d choose to miss this?” you reached up to pinch his nose, “you know me better than that, Ty.”
“And here I was preparing a speech to try and convince you to stay,” he said, looking at the ceiling.
“Did you really?” you snorted.
“You won’t hear it now,” he chuckled before hugging you, “thanks for choosing to be here.”
You hugged him back before leaning to kiss his chin, “did I have a choice, really?” you smiled.
Powell River Kings junior hockey club. They're part of the BCHL which is a junior hockey league that is well known enough but smaller under the behemoth that is the CHL.
They put out this post basically saying they need to find new ownership by March 29th and if they can't then in order for them to be fully funded and able to play next season they would need supporters from fans. It's a lot of money but that's just how it goes.
It's just another instance of a junior hockey team having to figure out how to survive. The people who get fucked over if they don't pull through aren't the people up top with a lot of money its the kids and the coaches and the people who work for the team.
It just fucking sucks to see the BCHL get fucked over again and it sucks to see kids possibly lose their team because of it.
