Author(s): Jennifer Jones Date: February 27, 2005 Page: 102 Section: Sports – Chicago Sun-Times
Almost three years after first putting a hockey team on the ice under the banner of the Chicago Gay Hockey Association, Chuck Jacobson seems frustrated with the progress he has made. The team plays in a Rolling Meadows adult league, but it is tough to get people committed to playing the full schedule. On a recent Sunday night, when Jacobson took the ice to play a game against the Slashing Pumpkins, the other team had five more skaters than his team did.
But Jacobson remains committed to offering a place where gay hockey players can compete on a team that accepts them for who they are. He said the team has between 15 and 18 players, the majority of whom are gay. The team has traveled to tournaments and has a new sponsor and a new name. It has participated in the Gay Pride Parade, and Jacobson is planning a gay hockey event that will take place before a Wolves game in April.
With the world the way it is today, it seemed like it was time,” said Jacobson, who came up with the idea after participating in a gay hockey tournament in New York City. Being openly gay seems to be a lot more accepted than it was 10 years ago. I can see it’s not as free here as it is in New York. We’ve had instances where people have heard the fag’ word. More times than not, when that’s happened, the referee hears it and kicks him out.”
Jacobson has seen the environment improve during the last three years, though. The skill level of the team has fluctuated, but opponents have grown more used to the idea of playing against openly gay players.
Our first year you could tell it was growing pains, then we started winning and got more respect,” Jacobson said. You could tell they were thinking, Oh, this is a gay team, and we’re losing.’ The mouths shut up.”
Most of the players have competed on other teams, too, but the Chicago Gay Hockey Association provides a different atmosphere.
It’s a hockey team; that’s why I’m here,” Larry Zyks said. From the social aspect, it’s nice. It’s just a chance to get guys together and be able to socialize afterward in a comfortable environment. I like the diversity.”
The team also welcomes straight players, and Ringo Leung often shows up to play.
It’s something I’m comfortable with,” Leung said. It’s good exercise and a good bunch of people. Decent hockey players and decent people, too. Sometimes you play on a team, and they’re a bunch of jerks and overly competitive. This team is competitive, but they have a good attitude at the same time.”
Andy Rogers said there are more straight people playing on the team now than there were in the past.
Either they are not getting out there with the information, there are not gay skaters or there are not people who are gay willing to admit it,” he said. It’s a shame because we’re playing hockey and have had a number of straight guys play on the team, and it doesn’t bother them to be associated with it. They’re comfortable with themselves and like playing hockey more than they care if it’s a gay team or a straight team.”
Asked which of his scenarios he thought was most likely, Rogers paused before answering.
I hope it’s because they haven’t heard about us,” he said. I would not be surprised if it was because they didn’t want to admit [they were gay]. It’s too bad because there shouldn’t be that pressure there. If we have straight guys willing to play on the team and don’t have a problem with it, why can’t people who are gay?”