Gay Hockey Player Matt Kenny Returns to Ice Inspired by 'Heated Rivalry,' Ahead of Pride Night Celebration

Matt Kenny, a gay hockey player, has laced up his skates and returned to the ice after more than a decade away, inspired by the Canadian series 'Heated Rivalry,' which depicts a romance between two professional hockey players on rival teams. Kenny grew up playing hockey but stepped away because he struggled to balance his love for the sport with his sexuality.

"I had to leave the game before going any further because I didn’t really think that the game would be able to love me back the way I loved it," Kenny explained. His return was sparked by watching 'Heated Rivalry,' a show that follows the romantic relationship between two competing hockey players, which resonated deeply with him. "I legitimately broke down, it cracked me wide open, I had a panic attack, I couldn’t breathe and like twenty years of memories and trauma came back and, I don’t know why, but my gut told me the only way that I could heal this was to repair my relationship with hockey," Kenny recalled. For the first time in over a decade, he put on skates at the Berger Foundation Iceplex. "It felt amazing," he said.

Kenny's story coincides with Acrisure Arena's annual Pride Night, an event celebrating and supporting the LGBTQ+ community both on and off the ice. The Pride Night game, featuring the Coachella Valley Firebirds against the Henderson Silver Knights, was scheduled for puck drop at 6 p.m. on January 10, 2026. The event includes special performances, LGBTQ+ youth initiatives, and an auction of game-worn jerseys to benefit Palm Springs Pride youth services programs.

Paul O’Kane, founder of Coachella Valley Pride Hockey, emphasized the event's importance for LGBTQ+ people and others facing barriers in the sport. "When a young person sees someone like the Firebirds celebrate Pride, celebrate diversity in our community, it really means so much," O’Kane said. He added, “It tells that young LGBT kid or that young female kid or even older adult who hasn’t played, that hockey is for me too.”

Since sharing his personal story on social media, Kenny has connected with others who have faced similar challenges in balancing their sexuality with their passion for hockey. He hopes his experience, alongside events like Pride Night, can contribute to broader changes in the sport, fostering greater inclusion for gay people and other LGBTQ+ individuals.

Kenny's return highlights ongoing efforts within hockey to create welcoming spaces for LGBTQ+ people, particularly in a sport historically perceived as less inclusive. The influence of 'Heated Rivalry' underscores how media representations of gay relationships in sports can inspire real-world action and healing for individuals like Kenny. Community leaders like O’Kane point to Pride Nights as pivotal in sending messages of hope to young LGBTQ+ people, encouraging their participation in hockey.

While coverage of Kenny's story and the Pride Night event appears primarily in local and LGBTQ+-focused outlets, it reflects a personal milestone tied to broader community initiatives. No additional independent national sources were identified in recent searches confirming further details, but the consistent reporting from Outsports and KESQ verifies the core elements of Kenny's journey and the event's focus on inclusion. This narrative arrives amid growing visibility for LGBTQ+ athletes in hockey, with events like Pride Night playing a key role in building belonging.