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<\/p>\nBOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – JANUARY 22: Players representing Hockey Is For Everyone stand on the blue line with Charlie McAvoy #73, Pavel Zacha #18, Casey Mittelstadt #11 and Jonathan Aspirot #45, Viktor Arvidsson #71 of the Boston Bruins before the game against the Vegas Golden Knights at the TD Garden on January 22, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Steve Babineau\/NHLI via Getty Images)\u00a0NHLI via Getty Images<\/p>\n
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BOSTON \u2014 Charlie McAvoy <\/a>hasn\u2019t seen \u201cHeated Rivalry,\u201d the popular new show about a romance between two male hockey players, who are rivals on the ice, but secretly in love off of it. But the Bruins<\/a> defenseman was aware of it and encouraged by its success.<\/p>\n \u201cI haven\u2019t seen that show, but from what I\u2019ve heard, it\u2019s been growing the game a lot,\u201d he said after Boston\u2019s 4-3 win over Vegas <\/a>on Thursday. \u201cI\u2019m in support of that. That stuff is all awesome. It\u2019s awesome for hockey and for everything. Hopefully, a lot of people feel that support.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHeated Rivalry\u201d is so popular that its co-stars will be torchbearers leading into next month\u2019s Winter Olympics and NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said he binged the whole show in one night.<\/p>\n The topic came up with McAvoy on Thursday because it was \u201cHockey is for Everyone Night\u201d in Boston. It\u2019s a league-wide NHL \u201cinitiative that uses hockey and the National Hockey League\u2019s global influence to drive positive social change and foster more inclusive communities regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, disability, sexual orientation and socio-economic status\u201d according to the league.<\/p>\n McAvoy has been an eager ambassador for his sport. He was one of several players who had rainbow tape on their sticks and gear during the pregame. He and his wife represented the Bruins at the Boston Pride parade this summer. <\/p>\n \u201cI think the league has done great things. I think here in our room, we\u2019ve tried to do things as well to echo that message and make everyone feel safe and comfortable within the game,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s very important. I feel like I see it in here and in the game.\u201d<\/p>\n The Bruins had rainbow lights outside TD Garden and on the scoreboard. The rainbow-taped sticks will be auctioned to benefit Boston Pride Hockey, New England\u2019s first LGBTQIA+ and ally-friendly hockey organization.<\/p>\n The night also put a spotlight on organizations that make the game accessible to players with disabilities.<\/p>\n During the starting lineup introductions, the Bruins players were joined by players from the following groups according to the Bruins: Sled hockey, deaf, blind, special hockey and standing amputee\/limb difference athletes.<\/p>\n Tables were set up around the concourse with representatives from: <\/p>\n The Boston Deafenders, a team\u00a0for\u00a0deaf and hard-of-hearing playersNew England Battalion\u00a0Hockey\u00a0Club, a team\u00a0for\u00a0veterans, first responders and adaptive\u00a0hockey\u00a0players of all skill levelsMassachusetts Adaptive\u00a0Hockey, an organization dedicated to expanding access to\u00a0hockey\u00a0for\u00a0individuals with disabilities<\/p>\n McAvoy said he was glad the Bruins got a win and gave fans from those different communities something to cheer for as they came together.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve heard so much support from people within those communities that it means a lot,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s the least that we can do to show our support and that we\u2019re all on the same team.\u201d<\/p>\n