Professional hockey’s first trans player ready to retire
The first professional hockey trans player is getting ready to retire from the sport at 23.
Harrison Browne is getting ready to hang his skates up after playing the sport for over 15 years.
The Buffalo Beauts skater became a name well known in the National Women’s Hockey League when he helped his team get to the finals.
The athlete has decided to retire from his sport because he want to focus on his other priorities.
“I want to start transitioning and seeing myself in the mirror the way I see on the inside.”
Browne came as trans in an interview with ESPN last year.
“I identify as a man,” Browne said. “My family is starting to come to grips with it, now it’s my time to be known as who I am, to be authentic and to hear my name said right when I get a point, or see my name on a website.”
“I’m still the same player, I’m still playing in the body that I did last year, I’m still the same exact person. I’m just a different name and different pronouns, that’s it. I’m still Brownie.”
Since coming out, Browne has opened up even further about focussing on his transition.
Having come out, Browne now says: “I have a sense of pride now that I have come out. I am now that beacon of hope for people that you don’t have to look a certain way to be something you can be that. And I am proud of that role.”
The player began his sporting career after being recruited by the University of Maine. Browne has identified as trans behind closed doors for a few years, with coaches along the way being aware of his identity.
“On the ice, when I put that equipment on, I’m a hockey player. I don’t think about who I’m playing with, I don’t think I’m playing with women. I don’t think I’m in the wrong body,” he said.
“Off the ice, I felt more comfortable having my friends call me what I wanted to be called, referring to me with the pronouns that I wanted. If anything, my product on the ice was let loose and I could be myself.”
