Hockey is never about just hockey. It simply can't be. Nothing in our world exists in a vacuum, and that includes professional sports. There's a reason, after all, we often look up to athletes: they're public figures with a voice, and it's up to them to use that voice wisely.
That's just what the Chicago Blackhawks are doing as they've partnered with You Can Play, an organization dedicated to removing homophobia from the world of sports. In it, Scott Darling and Niklas Hjalmarsson speak up:
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) April 4, 2016
"We believe athletes should be judged by their character, work ethic, and talent," Darling says in the video, "not their sexual orientation, or gender identity.