Halifax LGBTQ hockey tournament kicks off with slick moves and fun team names
Competition draws players from outside Halifax, including the U.S.
Hockey players warmed up, fired off practice shots at their goalie and then — with the puck drop — began the first games of the Halifax Pride Cup.
The three-day hockey tournament, made up entirely of LGBTQ players, kicked off Friday evening with three games and six teams. The tournament is the first organized by Queer Hockey Nova Scotia.
The games are free and open to the public, although organizers are accepting donations.
Seventy-five players registered for the tournament, and it isn't just locals who are competing.
Kriona Hagen, who plays on Team Trans as a centre, came up from Madison, Wis. She found out about the Pride Cup through her best friend, who is one of the organizers.
"Playing with Team Trans and being on a team where everyone else is transgender is almost a spiritual experience," she said.
Hagen said she began playing hockey as an adult because she was looking for queer community.
"I was so desperate, I was willing to try team sports," she said.
As for the opportunity to play among LGBTQ hockey players, Hagen said it's affirming.
"It's so nice being in a locker room where you don't have to explain anything," she said. "The people there already know and understand."
O Stonehouse also shares that feeling of comfort in playing with people like them.
"It's the most excited I've been for a sporting event in my whole life," they said.
Stonehouse is part of team Golden Goals, a play on The Golden Girls. The team faced off yesterday against team Trans-Canada Express in a dramatic game.
Trans-Canada Express initially went up 1-0 in the first period. But with just over eight minutes to go in the third, the Golden Goals tied it up.
Stonehouse's team went on to win the game 3-2, with Stonehouse scoring a goal.
"Team Trans Canada Express was a ton of fun to play against, super personable people," Stonehouse said after the game. "Every faceoff was a chat — it was super lovely."
In the end, it's all in good fun, with players lining up at centre-ice to shake hands.
After months of work organizing the event, Queer Hockey Nova Scotia founder Jay McKellar called the tournament "very overwhelming but very exciting."
McKellar, who plays for Team Trans, said he is excited to be playing against friends and family.
"It's incredible to see these six teams and … athletes come from all over to experience Pride and queer joy," McKellar said.
The final game and championship of the Pride Cup is at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday at Centennial Arena.
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