LANGLEY, B.C. – Former professional hockey player and LGBTQ+ advocate Brock McGillis will host educational seminars for all BCHL teams, starting tonight. The sessions will focus on problematic language in sports, promoting inclusivity and how to become shift makers in hockey.
McGillis, who is the first openly gay professional men’s hockey player, will host three separate sessions to give all BCHL teams the chance to attend. After tonight, there are another two scheduled for Dec. 5 and 6. He will also be available throughout the remainder of the season for follow-up education.
“I am looking forward to my first of three sessions with the BCHL tonight,” said McGillis. “Over the next two weeks I’ll be working with all the teams in the league to humanize, educate and create shift makers.”
The Chilliwack Chiefs were the first BCHL team to host a session with McGillis when he spoke with the team on Oct. 3.
“We are thrilled to have Brock host these talks with our athletes, team staff and league office,” said BCHL Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer Steven Cocker. “His message around inclusivity in our sport and the power of language is a valuable lesson for all to hear.”
For more information on McGillis and his advocacy work, visit his website.
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About the BCHL:
Sending more players on to Division I college hockey every season than any other hockey league in Canada, the BCHL has established itself as a national leader in the development of young student athletes. Considering approximately a third of today’s NHL is made up of NCAA alumni, the BCHL has become a breeding ground for some the sport’s most elite and successful players. In 2021-22 alone, there were 196 BCHL players who received scholarships to top schools in the U.S. and Canada, including 173 with NCAA Division I commitments. The BCHL is also a leader in player safety, with a full-time Department of Player Safety, the toughest rules on fighting in North American junior hockey, as well as a league-wide independent Safe Sport Officer and an individual Athlete Advocate assigned to all 18 teams.
The BCHL is: Modern Hockey.
Media Contact:
Jesse Adamson
Manager, Communications & Events
BC Hockey League
604-354-0035
jadamson@bchl.ca
