25 November 2019

Team Trans: Ottawa's all-transgender ice hockey team believed to be the first in the sport

USA's all-transgender ice hockey side 'Team Trans' is believed to be the first team in the sport made up of entirely transgender athletes. 

Based in Ottawa, they are made up of more than a dozen transgender men, women and gender non-conforming athletes from both Canada and the US.

Forward Kat Ferguson said the aims of the club include 'promoting education, awareness and the acceptance of all-transgender athletes in sport'.

Honorary co-captain Harrison Browne won the National Women's Hockey League with Metropolitan Riveters and Buffalo Beauts during his professional career.

The squad took to the ice for the first time earlier this month and played Boston Pride, with Brown describing it as a 'life-changing' moment.

"A lot of kids feel like they don’t have a place in sport because sport in the past and in history has been so binary — it’s always broken into men’s and women’s sides," said Browne.

"There hasn’t been … a team that has basically said, ‘We support you, we are here for you.’ I think this is the first time it’s really ever been seen in hockey."

Eight months ago, players connected through social media and started to create the team it is today.

Ferguson, who identifies as non-binary, added: "There was no stress about locker room situations. 

"We all have different scars and different life experiences and stuff like that. We’re all kind of hiding things, usually in one way or another, when we play with our regular teams.

"It was like an instant family. It was really special… Honestly, by the end of the weekend we were all sobbing because it was over. It was really emotionally amazing."

Team Trans' next fixture is against the BPH Rhode Island Scrimmage on November 29 at the Meehan Auditorium.

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