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The NHL names Braden Holtby as the Capitals’ LGBTQ-inclusion ambassador

By Ian Oland

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February 2, 2017 7:32 pm

The NHL is celebrating Hockey Is For Everyone month during February. On Wednesday, the league announced that it was partnering with You Can Play to create more visibility and support for the LGBTQ community. The NHL also released a list that features a player from every team who is a You Can Play ambassador. According to the NHL, each athlete named will serve as a leader in the locker room and in the community on diversity, equality, and inclusion. The players have also agreed to lead the way in their markets to fight homophobia in sports. Some of them will even be featured in local public service announcements.

On Thursday, the NHL announced that Braden Holtby will be the Capitals’ LBGTQ representative.

“Our Clubs, our players and our fans are committed to welcoming everyone to hockey,” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said. “While the NHL family strives for diversity and inclusiveness all year long, February is Hockey Is For Everyone month, which will highlight, on a daily basis, the many ways our sport brings greater attention, heightened awareness and broader opportunities.”

Over the summer, Holtby marched in the Capital Pride Parade along with other members of the Caps organization. Holtby also attended the event in 2015, but just as a bystander.

Braden and his wife Brandi were first inspired to the cause after visiting the former home of Harvey Milk during their honeymoon in San Francisco. When the couple returned home, their landscaper noticed the Holtbys’ new LGBTQ bumper stickers. He invited Brandi and Braden to the Human Rights Campaign national dinner.

Since then, Holtby has become arguably the most visible local athlete to support the LGBTQ community.

Select clubs this month will designate one home game as a You Can Play night, celebrating members of the local LGBTQ community with ceremonial puck drops, anthem singers, features on hometown heroes, and “Pride Tape” that will be used during warmups.

Here are the rest of the You Can Play ambassadors for each club:

Anaheim Ducks — Ryan Kesler

Arizona Coyotes — Oliver Ekman-Larsson

Boston Bruins — Brad Marchand

Buffalo Sabres — Anders Nilsson

Carolina Hurricanes — Eddie Lack

Calgary Flames — Matt Stajan

Chicago Blackhawks — Trevor Van Riemsdyk

Colorado Avalanche — Gabriel Landeskog

Columbus Blue Jackets — Scott Hartnell

Dallas Stars — Curtis McKenzie

Detroit Red Wings — Frans Nielsen

Edmonton Oilers — Matt Hendricks

Florida Panthers — Shawn Thornton

Los Angeles Kings — Dustin Brown

Minnesota Wild — Charlie Coyle

Montreal Canadiens — Andrew Shaw

Nashville Predators — Colin Wilson

New Jersey Devils — Andy Greene

New York Islanders — Casey Cizikas

New York Rangers — Mats Zuccarello

Ottawa Senators — Dion Phaneuf

Philadelphia Flyers — Claude Giroux

Pittsburgh Penguins — Chris Kunitz

San Jose Sharks — Chris Tierney

St. Louis Blues — David Perron

Tampa Bay Lightning — Brian Boyle

Toronto Maple Leafs — James van Riemsdyk

Vancouver Canucks — Henrik Sedin

Washington Capitals — Braden Holtby

Winnipeg Jets — Jacob Trouba

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