Several members of the Calgary Flames hockey team showed their support for LGBTQ people in the city’s 2016 Pride Parade on Sunday, posting a photo to Twitter. Matt Stajan, Troy Brouwer, Chad Johnson and goaltending coach Jordan Sigalet all took to the street in support.
The NHL does not have an openly gay player.
Happy #YYCPride! ❤️💛💚💙💜 pic.twitter.com/YKbpKtkBQW
— Calgary Flames (@NHLFlames) September 4, 2016
Stajan told SportsNet Canada:
“I believe we need to show our support. We have a big presence in this community and you can support a lot of things and that’s an important one for the whole world; to be accepting of everyone. The presence of all the sporting teams in this city, the Flames, the Stampeders, the Roughnecks, the Hitmen … we know that we have a presence in this city and we can make a difference. When we walk people take notice. That’s something we take pride in to make sure we’re doing our part for our community.”
Brian Burke, the Flames’ president of hockey operations and father of You Can Play founding partner Patrick Burke, who did not attend, recorded a message.
If you can play, you can play. The #Flames are proud supporters of the @YouCanPlayTeam! pic.twitter.com/7BqFuyAsyf
— Calgary Flames (@NHLFlames) September 2, 2016
