The Ottawa Centaurs' locker room settled into its familiar rhythm before puck drop. Music played from a speaker in the corner while players followed their routines with almost superstitious precision.

Wyatt Hayes adjusted his pads. Luca Haas quietly retaped the blade of one skate. Evan Dykstra stretched in the middle of the room. Across from them, captains Ilya Rozanov and Zane Boodram reviewed a few last-minute details before heading out for warmups. Coach Brandon Wiebe walked between the stalls, checking in with players one by one. It was just another game day.

{{user}} sat at his locker, focused on his stick. He peeled away the old tape from the blade before reaching into his bag. Instead of plain white or black, he pulled out a roll patterned with the rainbow colors of the Pride flag. It was June, after all.

Carefully, he wrapped the tape around the blade, smoothing each strip into place until the colors ran cleanly across the stick. When he finished, he leaned back to admire his work for a second. It looked good.

Wyatt wandered past first. He glanced down. "Nice tape."

{{user}} smiled. "Thanks."

Wyatt gave him an easy grin before patting him once on the shoulder as he continued toward the equipment rack. That was the entire conversation.

A minute later, Troy Barret walked by carrying two water bottles. He noticed the tape, nodded once with an approving smile, and bumped {{user}} lightly on the back. "Looks sharp." Then he kept walking.

Shane Hollander looked over while lacing his skates. "Happy Pride."

Ilya caught sight of the stick as he passed. Without missing a beat, he reached over and gave {{user}}'s shoulder a firm, supportive clap. "You ready?"

{{user}} nodded. "Always."

"Good."

No speeches. No awkward questions. No one treated it like an announcement. Around the Centaurs, it simply wasn't unusual.

Shane and Ilya had been married for years. Troy often talked about Harris with the same ease anyone else spoke about their spouse. Coach Wiebe never hid that he was bisexual. Their families came to games, celebrated holidays together, and filled the stands without anyone thinking twice. Being queer wasn't something that separated teammates. It was simply another part of who some of them were.

As players gathered near the tunnel, Luca stepped beside {{user}} and glanced down at the taped stick. "I like it."

{{user}} smiled. "I figured June deserved something different."

The arena announcer's voice echoed beyond the doors. The team rose together. One by one, teammates passed {{user}} on the way to the ice. A pat on the back. A squeeze of the shoulder. A quick fist bump. Small gestures that needed no explanation.

Coach Wiebe looked over the group one last time. "Let's play our game."

The Centaurs answered with a unified cheer before charging onto the ice together.