Gay Hockey Player Matt Kenny Hailed as Hero by 9-Year-Old Fan at NHL Pride Cup
Photo Credit: Matt Kenny / Social Media
by Chris Tremblay Mar 9
3 MIN READ
The third annual NHL Pride Cup took place on February 28, 2026, in Surrey, British Columbia, southeast of Vancouver, featuring a matchup between leading LGBTQ+ hockey associations from the Pacific Northwest: Vancouver’s The Cutting Edges and the Seattle Pride Hockey Association. The Cutting Edges won gold, with Seattle taking silver, and the NHL donated $25,000 to each team to support their community efforts.
Former Canadian hockey defenseman Matt Kenny, now living in Coachella Valley, California, attended the two-game event. Kenny, who had retired from the sport, recently returned to the ice for the first time in 15 years at the Berger Foundation Iceplex in Palm Desert, California, as part of his healing journey. He described the experience as feeling "amazing" and driven by a need to "repair my relationship with hockey."
Kenny's public coming out in January 2026 was sparked by watching the HBO series "Heated Rivalry," based on Rachel Reid's novels about a romantic relationship between two rival hockey players. On Christmas Eve, the first episode triggered an emotional breakdown: "I legitimately broke down, it cracked me wide open, I had a panic attack, I couldn’t breathe, and like 20 years of memories and trauma came back," Kenny shared on Instagram. Reid amplified his story on social media, leading to over 4.5 million views of his posts.
In his posts, Kenny revealed a past secret relationship with a teammate, the homophobia that contributed to his departure from hockey, and his five-year battle with multiple sclerosis, which he has overcome to become a long-distance runner. Following the Pride Cup, he posted about the event's significance for visibility in the LGBTQ+ community: “This weekend reminded me that visibility within our community matters.”
A pivotal moment came when Kenny met a 9-year-old hockey fan and his mother at the event. The child recognized Kenny and requested a photo, despite Stanley Cup champions like Andrew Ference, Bill Ranford, Corey Hirsch, Dave Tomlinson, Dave Babych, and Jyrki Lumme also being present. Later, the mother texted Kenny that her son called him his hero and said it was the best day he had had in a long time.
Kenny reflected on the encounter: “Yesterday was the first time I actually looked into the eyes of that next generation, and it hit me. This was no longer just an idea... And here’s the wild part: There were Stanley Cup champions in that room. Actual legends of the sport. And he still wanted a picture with me.” He emphasized its broader meaning: “For me, it wasn’t just about rainbows. It was about connection and community and love of others and self.”
Kenny advocated for safety in sports for LGBTQ+ people, including transgender and nonbinary individuals: “I don’t know why, but my gut told me the only way that I could heal this was to repair my relationship with hockey... for the LGBTQ+ community and specifically our trans family to feel safe inside sport and the sport that they love. Not tolerated. Not debated. Not politicized. Safe. I saw the impact directly. I saw it in the eyes of the next generation.” He later amended "brothers and sisters" to "trans family" to be more inclusive.
Kenny challenged others: “Think about who might be watching you. Think about how you could become a hero for someone else, not by being extraordinary but by being honest. By telling your story.” He has committed to attending next year's NHL Pride Cup on the ice. The event underscores growing visibility for gay athletes in hockey, fostering connections across generations in inclusive spaces.
Kenny's public coming out in January 2026 was sparked by watching the HBO series "Heated Rivalry," based on Rachel Reid's novels about a romantic relationship between two rival hockey players. On Christmas Eve, the first episode triggered an emotional breakdown: "I legitimately broke down, it cracked me wide open, I had a panic attack, I couldn’t breathe, and like 20 years of memories and trauma came back," Kenny shared on Instagram. Reid amplified his story on social media, leading to over 4.5 million views of his posts.
In his posts, Kenny revealed a past secret relationship with a teammate, the homophobia that contributed to his departure from hockey, and his five-year battle with multiple sclerosis, which he has overcome to become a long-distance runner. Following the Pride Cup, he posted about the event's significance for visibility in the LGBTQ+ community: “This weekend reminded me that visibility within our community matters.”
A pivotal moment came when Kenny met a 9-year-old hockey fan and his mother at the event. The child recognized Kenny and requested a photo, despite Stanley Cup champions like Andrew Ference, Bill Ranford, Corey Hirsch, Dave Tomlinson, Dave Babych, and Jyrki Lumme also being present. Later, the mother texted Kenny that her son called him his hero and said it was the best day he had had in a long time.
Kenny reflected on the encounter: “Yesterday was the first time I actually looked into the eyes of that next generation, and it hit me. This was no longer just an idea... And here’s the wild part: There were Stanley Cup champions in that room. Actual legends of the sport. And he still wanted a picture with me.” He emphasized its broader meaning: “For me, it wasn’t just about rainbows. It was about connection and community and love of others and self.”
Kenny advocated for safety in sports for LGBTQ+ people, including transgender and nonbinary individuals: “I don’t know why, but my gut told me the only way that I could heal this was to repair my relationship with hockey... for the LGBTQ+ community and specifically our trans family to feel safe inside sport and the sport that they love. Not tolerated. Not debated. Not politicized. Safe. I saw the impact directly. I saw it in the eyes of the next generation.” He later amended "brothers and sisters" to "trans family" to be more inclusive.
Kenny challenged others: “Think about who might be watching you. Think about how you could become a hero for someone else, not by being extraordinary but by being honest. By telling your story.” He has committed to attending next year's NHL Pride Cup on the ice. The event underscores growing visibility for gay athletes in hockey, fostering connections across generations in inclusive spaces.
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