Gabriel Landeskog, the captain of Colorado Avalanche hockey team stood up for equality by speaking yesterday on behalf of You Can Play, an organization focusing on eliminating discrimination from sports. Thanks to Landeskog’s involvement, NHL officially became the first sports league in North America to include LGBT allies on every team.
"Having full and, more importantly, ongoing participation from the NHL, is a milestone for acceptance of all athletes at every level of play and sport," said You Can Play executive director Wade Davis. "Every major men's sports league has been represented in a You Can Play video and now every team in one of the world's premier sports leagues has actively participated. This support from professional leagues has a positive impact in locker rooms and anywhere sports are played." "Young athletes everywhere look up to National Hockey League players as leaders on inclusion," NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said. "Our players, our Clubs and every member of the NHL family will strive to support important initiatives such as You Can Play in our local communities and around the world."
Landeskog will represent Sweden in the 2014 winter Olympics. Don’t miss Landeskog and the Swedes take on Czech Republic on Wednesday February, 12th.