Gay hockey
CONTENT WARNING: This article contains mentions of homophobia.
If you ask anyone that grew up in hockey, they’ll be able to tell you the reason that first brought them to the sport. For some, it might contain been a family tradition; others may have had a favourite player. For me, it was when I realized hockey was my ticket to construct friends.
When I was younger, I was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Growing up, that meant I was the outcast, the kid with no social skills and an obsession with the weather channel.
To help me, my parents enrolled me in social skill classes. What those classes taught was the importance of common interests with other people. So, I created a plan: almost every guy I knew that was my age loved hockey, so if that became our common interest, maybe they would be my partner.
I put the plan into action at school one Monday morning, when I was about ten. I walked into class, steeled up my nerves and walked over to another boy. He turned to me—uneasy and unsure of what I might do—but I just said:
"Hey, did you watch the game on Saturday?"
League Deposit Open
Deposits for the season are open!
The deposit secures your notice in the league for the upcoming season. The full cost of the season will be $ ($ deposit, remaining $ due before you position foot on the ice). The cost of ice is going up (as it always does), but the planned expansion to DeForest this season is actually keeping the charge down.
As always: cost should not be a barrier to playing hockey with us! If it is, reach out &#; we have a financial aid program to help form the cost of playing hockey easier. If you want to play with us but need some time to figure out the finances, that&#;s fine! Let us know and we&#;ll hold your notice in the league.
(the PayPal interface is new, and there are still a few kinks to function out with it, so don&#;t worry if there&#;s a delay in seeing the &#;you&#;ve secured your spot in the league!&#; message on your profile)
-Kriona, on behalf of the MGHA Board
HOCKEY
United States Gay Sports Network
There are 19 Hockey leagues/teams played in 16 cities and 12 states (+DC) around the country!
- North West: 3 ( OR - WA )
- North Central: 4 ( IL - MN - OH - WI )
- North East: 6 ( MA - NY - PA - D.C. )
- South West: 5 ( AZ - CA )
- South Central: 1 ( TX )
- South East: 0
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- North West
- North Central
- North East
- South West
- South Central
- South East
New York, NY
Brooklyn Blades Women's Ice Hockey Club
New York City Gay Hockey Association
Columbus, OH
Columbus Ohio Gay Lesbian Ally Hockey Association
Seattle, WA
Seattle Pride Hockey League
Seattle Women's Hockey Club
Milwaukee Admirals’ Luke Prokop sees progress in his game, in acceptance of a gay hockey player
It hasn’t come as quickly as he would like, but Luke Prokop is seeing progress.
Progress in his game.
Progress in his sport.
Progress in society.
The first active openly gay player under contract to an NHL team, Prokop has spent this season with the AHL’s Milwaukee Admirals, a step up from the third-level ECHL, where he spent most of He is still very much a part-time player but already has been in twice as many Admirals games as all of last year. And on Saturday night, Prokop scored his first AHL goal.
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Prokop also is looking forward to Wednesday, when the Admirals host their annual Pride Bedtime for a game against the Texas Stars.
“I’ve been blessed to play in two of them for my home teams as a junior, and I got to play in one this year on the road,” Prokop said. “Seeing the way my teammates kind of react to it, you know that they realize that it has a big impact on fans.
“Some of them