Sharing your story has the power to save the lives of iindividuals experiencing similar hardships.

In this episode of Leader Talks with Sartaj Sarkaria, we welcome Matt Kenny, the self-described ‘recovering hockey player’, marathon runner, and 2SLGBTQIA+ advocate, to discuss how he navigates life as a disabled, queer immigrant. Hear all about his experience playing hockey, why he decided to leave the sport, and navigating life in the United States. as a gay immigrant with a disability.

Matt speaks candidly about the challenges following his multiple sclerosis diagnosis, including a deeply personal and emotional moment of crisis. He sdiscusses the changes that helped him return to running despite his disability, and his journey to the NHL Unites Pride Cup, where he found inspiration to uplift fellow queer athletes. He also reflects on the importance of representation and how embracing both “hockey Matt” and “gay Matt” helped to advance inclusion within the sport.

Listener discretion advised: This episode contains a brief discussion of Matt Kenny’s personal story, which touches on sensitive topics including attempted suicide. Listeners who wish to avoid these references may do so at timestamps 06:47 and 29:58. We encourage you to pause, skip these sections, or seek professional support as needed. Thank you for listening, and we hope you find this episode valuable.

Key Points From This Episode:

• Introducing Matt Kenny to the show.
• Why he calls himself a ‘recovering hockey player.’
• What Matt is doing today and how his diagnosis has affected his life.
• TW: For listeners who wish to avoid Matt’s account of attempted suicide, please skip audio between [00:06:47] and [00:08:28].
• The changes Matt made and how he started running again.
• His experience attending the NHL Unites Pride Cup and why he was invited.
• What Matt wishes he had been told as a young, gay athlete.
• How LGBTQ+ representation in media builds confidence within the community.
• The impact the You Can Play project is having on young hockey players.
• How Matt has improved equity and inclusion in hockey and the resistance he’s faced.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

• Matt Kenny Linktree
• Matt Kenny on Instagram
• You Can Play
• Pride Tape
• Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion
• Sartaj Sarkaria
• Leader Talks with Anne-Marie Pham