Marchand happy to fill role as LBGTQ Ambassador on Bruins

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BRIGHTON, Mass – Brad Marchand was pretty outspoken a couple of months ago when a twitter troll attacked him via social media using a homophobic slur, and the B’s agitator used both his words and his actions to defend and support the LGBTQ community. It was so impactful, in fact, that it eventually caused the twitter troll in question to delete his entire account after his hateful language was brought to light.

So it probably shouldn’t come as any kind of surprise that Marchand will now represent the Boston Bruins as one of 30 You Can Play ambassadors with one picked for each of the teams in the NHL.

The ambassadors are designed to create a web of support in all 30 of the NHL dressing rooms, and give any potential LBGBTQ players somebody within their own team that they can reach out to for support. Marchand didn’t want to make a big deal out of his potentially important new role, but it was a no-brainer that No. 63 would gladly step up as an empathetic, influential voice inside the Boston dressing room.

“When I was asked [being a You Can Play ambassador] was something that right away…it’s something that I’m happy to be a part of,” said Marchand following Bruins practice on Friday. “It’s good to get the word out there that there’s a lot of support in the hockey community and, you know, we want to show that.”

The NHL rolled out their annual “Hockey is for Everyone” program at the beginning of February, and the list of 30 NHL player ambassadors is just one of many different features that the league has in mind for their month-long celebration of diversity.

“In support of their longstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion in hockey, the National Hockey League, the League’s Member Clubs and the National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) will spotlight a variety of community-related initiatives for Hockey Is For Everyone™ month,” said the NHL in a statement. “Every day throughout February, Hockey Is For Everyone activities will focus awareness on such areas as LGBTQ; ethnicity and gender equality; socio-economic status and those with disabilities.”

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