Winter Classic profile: LGBTQ+ Hockey in Minnesota growing

The 2022 Discover NHL Winter Classic at Target Field in Minneapolis on Jan. 1 will not just be an outdoor game between the Minnesota Wild and St. Louis Blues, it will also be a celebration of the "State of Hockey." Part of that celebration will include various hockey teams and clubs from throughout Minnesota skating on one of several auxiliary rinks at Target Field. NHL.com is profiling each of the teams. Today, LGBTQ+ Hockey in Minnesota.

A groundswell is building for LGBTQ+ hockey in Minnesota, which is something the state hasn't really had to this point, at least not in an organized way.
But that is changing.
There is a movement toward starting a Twin Cities Queer Hockey Association in 2022, a group that will provide inclusivity both for those who have found a welcoming hockey community and those who have not yet found that, growing out of a current organization called Phoenix Summer Ice/Phoenix Hockey.
"I want anyone who ever starts playing and loves the game to be able to be a lifelong player, to always have a place, to never not be able to play just because they don't think there's a right fit for them," said Alison Sommer, a player in WHAM (Women's Hockey Association of Minnesota), who will take part in the Winter Classic celebration when the St. Louis Blues play the Minnesota Wild at Target Field on Jan. 1 (7 p.m. ET; TNT, SN1, TVAS, NHL LIVE).

The goal is to have four teams and to be able to play two games simultaneously, Sommer said.
The goal, too, is to provide a safe space in the sport for those who may not be comfortable on teams that are in existence. While Dan Johnson said he has felt included on teams he has played for, including Hockey Finder, he still sees the lack of an organization as a void, as does William Frahm-Gilles, who has played on Team Trans at two Friendship Series events.
"It seems like there's a growing conversation, especially within the trans community … identifying that it can be a really powerful experience to be in-community, and just not needing to think about all of the baggage that can go along with dealing with cis folks in sports," Frahm-Gilles said. "Even allies, it can be a little awkward and uncomfortable to be reminded of that all the time."

That can help create a community, something that Sommer has found in WHAM, where two other players who will take part in the Winter Classic event, Lizzi Carlson and Alison Johnson, play. It will be Sommer's 20th season in the league, a relationship so deep that it has led her to write the Teammates series, a trio of hockey-themed books.
WHAM is a league that stretches from 18-year-olds to 71-year-olds, and is comprised of eight divisions, each of which has about 14 teams.
"This is our own community for women who feel completely at ease to be themselves -- gay, straight, whatever -- and play hockey and enjoy the game that we love," Sommer said. "It's all about the love of the game. And Minnesota is the only place where something as awesome as WHAM could exist."

It's what she wishes for the future Twin Cities Queer Hockey Association, much as those in Wisconsin have found in the Madison Gay Hockey Association.
Sommer, who said she would be on the board of the organization, emphasized the importance of the league not just for the adults who would participate but for the kids playing and seeking others like them in the sport. Just knowing that they might have a place to remain in the game when they grow up means something. It's something that Frahm-Gilles noted too.
"The more we're able to let other people see that we're here, help continue building that community within the sport, and provide a little visibility for any kids growing up," Frahm-Gilles said. "Just kind of planting that flag that yes, you can have a really fulfilling athletic portion of your life and be true to who you are and you don't have to make a decision between those two things."

When Frahm-Gilles moved to Minnesota he knew how much hockey was infused into the fabric of life. He was excited for more opportunities to play, for the sport and for the community it creates.
Now, though, he is excited for the possibility of more, whether that's the Twin Cities Queer Hockey Association or something else.
"If hockey is going to be Minnesota's state identity, then it needs to have a space for every resident of the state to belong within that community," Frahm-Gilles said. "It's not always really easy to see the differences. If everyone's in hockey gear, everyone kind of looks the same.
"Being able to be more vocal and explicit about showcasing that diversity where it exists is a really important message to be getting out there."