The Hockey Player looks ready to tell a very different kind of hockey story. One not centred around championships or superstardom, but around the reality of chasing the NHL dream while constantly standing out.
For Luke Prokop, that reality comes with being the first openly gay player under an NHL contract.
The film explores what it truly means to be first: the spotlight, scrutiny, expectations, and resilience required to keep moving forward. From the trailer, we can see that the film also focuses on the grind of professional hockey itself: from the uncertainty, setbacks, all for the pursuit of reaching the NHL.
Directed by Jacqueline Doorey in her directorial debut and produced by Taylor Prestidge, The Hockey Player. Both already have a familiarity with hockey storytelling. Prestidge previously worked on WICK: The Hayley Wickenheiser Story and Hi, My Name is Dicky.
Filmed over three years and built from more than 200 hours of behind-the-scenes footage, the 80-minute feature follows Luke Prokop’s journey both on and off the ice as a “cultural trailblazer.”
Prokop’s path
If you are unfamiliar with Luke Prokop, the Nashville Predators drafted the Edmonton-born defenceman 73rd overall in 2020. A year later, in 2021, he made history when he publicly came out while under an NHL contract.
Since then, Luke Prokop has continued pursuing his NHL ambitions in the minors while also navigating a major health scare.
Most recently, he spent the 2025–26 season with the Bakersfield Condors, the AHL affiliate of the Edmonton Oilers.
He is currently set to become a free agent this summer.
More than a traditional sports documentary
Prestidge recently described the project by saying, “I don’t think this is going to be like any documentary anyone has seen before.”
From the trailer, The Hockey Player is positioned to be far more than a traditional sports documentary.
Beyond the broader conversations surrounding inclusivity in hockey, the film seeks to capture the uncertainty, grind, sacrifice, and emotional weight that come with trying to make the NHL. Something every prospect can relate to, whether they are carrying history with them or not.
For Edmonton hockey fans especially, this feels like a documentary worth paying attention to.
The film’s Canadian premiere will take place June 26 at Edmonton’s Garneau Theatre, with tickets going on sale May 22. It will begin streaming on June 29 on Apple TV and Prime Video before later airing in Canada on OUTtv.
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Interesting read,