Boston Bruins star Charlie McAvoy wants hockey fans in the LGBTQ+ community to know that he and his team have their backs.
With the Bruins hosting "Hockey is for Everyone" night during their 4-3 win over the Vegas Golden Knights, McAvoy was asked post-game about the hit HBO show Heated Rivalry and how the acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community is changing in hockey.
"I haven't seen it but from what I've heard of that show, it's been growing the game a lot and in support of that community, so that stuff's all awesome. It's awesome for hockey. It's awesome for everybody," McAvoy said, before later adding, "I've heard so much support from people within those communities that it means a lot to them. So, it's the least that we can do to show our support and show that we're all on the same team."
The popularity of Heated Rivalry, a hockey-set romance centred on characters Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov, has put a spotlight on the sport in the broader pop-culture landscape. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman told reporters in Washington, D.C., last week that he had watched the show and said he welcomed any new fans it brought to hockey.
“There are a lot of things about the game that we think are driving more and more people to the game,” he said, “and I do believe Heated Rivalry is one of those things.”
