“I believe, certainly in the NHL, a player who can help a team win because he can contribute on the ice is going to be coveted whatever his beliefs may be or whoever he may be. That goes to national origin, religious beliefs, or sexuality.”

American sports executive

Gary Bruce Bettman is an American sports executive, born in 1952, best known as the commissioner of the National Hockey League. He has held that role since February 1, 1993, making him one of the longest-serving league leaders in North American professional sports. Before joining the NHL, Bettman was a senior vice president and general counsel for the National Basketball Association. He studied at Cornell University and New York University School of Law, and was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2018.