Canucks Manny Malhotra to join Vancouver's Pride Parade

Vancouver Canucks forward Manny Malhotra will march in the Vancouver 2012 Pride Parade on Sunday, the organizers have confirmed.

Malhotra will be joined by Patrick Burke and march with players from the Vancouver Cutting Edges, billed as the only gay hockey club in Western Canada.

Officials with the Vancouver Pride Society said they were absolutely thrilled with the news.

The Canucks' centre is the third professional hockey player to participate in Pride events this year under the You Can Play banner.

Tommy Wingels of the San Jose Sharks and Vincent LoVerde, of the Ontario Reign, marched in Chicago on June 24.

Malhotra joins Canucks teammates Ryan Kesler, and Daniel and Henrik Sedin in lending his name and efforts to You Can Play, an organization dedicated to eliminating homophobia in sports.

Burke, a scout for the Philadelphia Flyers, appeared in the debut You Can Play public service announcement in March with his father, Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke. The Burkes took part in Toronto's Pride Parade last month.