Hockey Player Comes Out as Gay Ahead of Pride-Themed Match

Janne Puhakka, an elite-level former Finnish ice-hockey player, came out as gay just days before a Pride-themed showdown between elite teams Ilves and TPS.

The ice-hockey showdown took place this past Saturday. Players donned rainbow colors in the Pride-themed match to promote LGBTQ+ acceptance in the sport. 

According to Outsports, Puhakka is the first ice-hockey player in the country to come out as gay. It seems that he was not to excited to have to come out, but "believes that LGBT+ issues are still taboo in hockey" and that his actions can help future players.

Puhakka regrets not coming out while still playing in the hockey league. "I wasn’t good enough to have complete security in my job," he explained. "That brought uncertainty. I’m sure other players fear the issue because of their jobs as well."

The 24-year-old says he told his captain that he was gay, but kept his boyfriend a secret from his teammates, avoided questions about his love life, and feared someone seeing them together out in the city. He also said that he would frequently laugh off homophobic jokes in locker rooms.

"The hockey world is somehow lagging behind. We wouldn’t have to go through all this if everyone could be themselves in the locker room."

Trending Stories

'The Pitt' star Supriya Ganesh comes out as queer, uses she/they pronouns

Wilderness, woods, and Wigstock: Drag icons light up the Catskills

More than a stay: Airbnb’s latest release is built for the way we travel today

Joe Biden has tied the record for most LGBTQ+ judges confirmed in federal courts

Polari, the secret gay language: 7 words we still use & 6 we should bring back

HRC holds 'die-in' to protest Trump health care cuts

AJ Bediako, OG 'Drag Race UK' Pit Crew member, reportedly dead

Lesbian Pride: Here's every Dyke March in the U.S. in 2025

Utah Republicans ignore study supporting gender-affirming care for trans youth. It's research they demanded

All 6 rogue Mississippi cops got long prison sentences in 'Goon Squad' torture of 2 Black men

Rachel Levine fought HIV & STIs at HHS. Now she’s speaking out because that progress is being undone

Massachusetts federal judge orders gay asylum-seeker deported under Trump returned to U.S.

Out and About with Christian Cooper

Two right-wing Supreme Court justices signal they may uphold access to PrEP and more

France becomes world’s first country to enshrine abortion rights in constitution

500,000 Children at Risk: PEPFAR Funding Crisis

Elon Musk uses burner accounts on X, doesn’t fact-check: report

Donald Trump's anti-LGBTQ+ cabinet: An in-depth look

Grindr is reminding us why jockstraps are so sexy and iconic

We are Veterans Affairs clinicians. Our leadership is failing veterans

NewFest 2025: LGBTQ+ projects we're most excited to watch

Why experts say Trump's budget bill strips health care from nearly all transgender people

How climate disasters hurt mental health in young people

Rising star LAVERN says LGBTQ+ ravers 'bring the fire' ahead of EDC performance

Meet the LGBTQ+ players & reality TV icons competing on 'Survivor 50'

• 0
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• 7
• 8

Puhakka called back to comments by former professional ice hockey goalkeeper and a Finnish member of parliament, who in 2014 said, "It’d be a good idea for a gay player to hide his homo in the booth so as not to offend team chemistry and turn [sentiments] against the team." After criticisms, he later apologized for the comment. 

"When someone shares their own life deeper than just surface level, it strengthens the team," reflected Puhakka. "I’m glad if even one junior or professional player finds something positive in this interview."

Puhakka concluded, "It would be ideal if I didn’t have to talk about this, but as long as people are silent on the subject, we must speak up."

Welcome to the family Janne!