Stanley Pride

[bigbadjohn]

the Cup being in the Chicago pride parade is history in the making in my mind.

just now read about it and the back story. impressed with all the parties.

was going to add my voice/opinion but the only place i saw to voice said opinion, the topic seemed to already be closed. forgive me if i was wrong.

Click to read more...

 

[tarheelhockey]

This question is probably better posted here than in the main board. Hopefully trolls will stay away.

Has there ever been an NHL player, current or former, who came out as openly gay? Or, has there ever been a player who was widely known to be gay even if it wasn't "official"?

 

[Buck Aki Berg]

I know there were some rumours surrounding Wendel Clark, but they were likely just rumours.

 

[jkrx]

My son showed me this. I can't confirm authenticity ofcourse.

http://www.outsports.com/entertainment/20050218gumbybookexcerpt.htm

Otherwise I don't think anyone has admitted to homosexuality in the NHL. It's very rare in male hockey period. I know of only one player and I think he played in Sweden(?).

 

[tarheelhockey]

He informs me that he has seen about a dozen players in gay bars over the years. “One time, I ran into another player from my own team.â€

Well that is certainly a myth-shattering detail.

 

[tarheelhockey]

My son showed me this. I can't confirm authenticity ofcourse.

http://www.outsports.com/entertainment/20050218gumbybookexcerpt.htm

Otherwise I don't think anyone has admitted to homosexuality in the NHL. It's very rare in male hockey period. I know of only one player and I think he played in Sweden(?).

Ok, so I took a few key details from the article:
- Canadian-born player
- Went to an American university
- Won a Cup prior to 2005
- Not an "older guy" (which I took to mean under 30 in 2005)

And these are the only players I could find who fit that profile:
Steven Reinprecht
Ben Clymer
Dan Boyle

One of those guys was the source for the article, unless something was misrepresented.

 

[jkrx]

Ok, so I took a few key details from the article:
- Canadian-born player
- Went to an American university
- Won a Cup prior to 2005
- Not an "older guy" (which I took to mean under 30 in 2005)

And these are the only players I could find who fit that profile:
Steven Reinprecht
Eric Perrin
Ben Clymer
Dan Boyle

One of those guys was the source for the article, unless something was misrepresented. Of that group, Perrin was the only one taking "long bus trips" in the minors in 2003.

Did we just "out" Eric Perrin? Was his dad a pro?

Edit: Where do we get that he is a younger guy?

 

[tarheelhockey]

Did we just "out" Eric Perrin? Was his dad a pro?

Edit: Where do we get that he is a younger guy?

I don't think his dad was a pro, so I'm deleting him from the prior post. The father detail should actually narrow it right down.

I inferred his age from a comment about "older guys" on the bus in 2003. Based on the interview's date of 2005, I decided to go only with players 35 or younger in 2010.

 

[Sumoki Dachiba]

Hi there, I don't post often but I usually really appreciate and enjoy the depth of discussion and analysis in this forum. That being said, I'm sure that the collective knowledge of this forum group could be put to better use than 'outting' a closeted gay man who would obviously prefer to remain anonymous.
The article was really interesting and I am happy to see it posted as it gives insight into an aspect of the sport that I'm sure not many people appreciate. Maybe one day society, and professional sports in particular, will open up enough that guys like 'Aaron Barnes' feel comfortable enough to come out while they are playing. Until then, let's respect their choice to remain on the down low.
Cheers.

 

[jkrx]

I don't think his dad was a pro, so I'm deleting him from the prior post. The father detail should actually narrow it right down.

I inferred his age from a comment about "older guys" on the bus in 2003. Based on the interview's date of 2005, I decided to go only with players 35 or younger in 2010.

That's true. Well I don't really care who is gay. It's just intresting trying to figure it out.

 

[matnor]

Hi there, I don't post often but I usually really appreciate and enjoy the depth of discussion and analysis in this forum. That being said, I'm sure that the collective knowledge of this forum group could be put to better use than 'outting' a closeted gay man who would obviously prefer to remain anonymous.
The article was really interesting and I am happy to see it posted as it gives insight into an aspect of the sport that I'm sure not many people appreciate. Maybe one day society, and professional sports in particular, will open up enough that guys like 'Aaron Barnes' feel comfortable enough to come out while they are playing. Until then, let's respect their choice to remain on the down low.
Cheers.

Agree completely, since he was very careful not to be outed let's not speculate too much about it.

Anyway, I think it's a great move by the Chicago organization. I would guess that there are a number of gay players that, like the guy in the article, feel a need to disclose their identity. The more these issues are talked about in the hockey community the better.

 

[Razzmatazz]

Dan Boyle

It's not Boyle, he's married.

 

[BigDucky]

And Ben Clymer is from Minnesota.

 

[Briere Up There*]

So it's Reinprecht.

 

[tarheelhockey]

It would seem so. Unless I missed someone.

 

[Big Phil]

My son showed me this. I can't confirm authenticity ofcourse.

http://www.outsports.com/entertainment/20050218gumbybookexcerpt.htm

Otherwise I don't think anyone has admitted to homosexuality in the NHL. It's very rare in male hockey period. I know of only one player and I think he played in Sweden(?).

Oh geez, that article has been circulating around for quite some time. It's as phony as a two dollar bill. Now is there a gay player in NHL history? I'm sure there has been. That being said the NHL is the only one of the 4 major sports to not have someone "come out" after their career is over. Adam Proteau of The Hockey News wrote an article once practically begging an NHL player to come out. And people wonder why THN is irrelevant.

The Wendel Clark rumour is just one that doesn't die to this day. Clark is married. 4-5 years ago a nephew of mine talked to a man who designs rings/jewellery for famous people in the Toronto area. He claimed Clark was a nice man, but his wife was a gold digger. Clark is straight.

Glenn Anderson was someone else who aroused some suspicion for some reason. I think it might have a lot to do with the friend of his found dead in the swimming pool but that's as far as it goes. Anderson I believe right now is married too and if anything had bad press from being an absentee dad from a woman from Vancouver since 1989. Anderson is straight.

Other than that, unless someone can think of a name, I honestly can't think of an NHL player past or present who set of my "gay-dar" at any time. Hockey's a masculine game, you just don't see many moments where a player is anything but. Does any NHL player set off your "gay-dar?"

 

[Big Phil]

It would seem so. Unless I missed someone.

Poor Steve. Somewhere there are people who have read this that will just as well assume he is a homosexual based on a random article and a suspicious process of elimination. Honestly people, let's not slander a player here. Call him talentless and bash his on-ice play all you want but let's not create rumours about things from left field here

 

[mco543]

To think that there isn't a single gay player currently playing in the NHL is ludicrous. There are gay people in every single walk of life, there's gay soldiers, football players, lumberjacks, everything. Hopefully seeing how well received Brendan Burke's coming out was by fans and players will help whomever is struggling with this at whatever level or league they happen to be playing in.

 

[jkrx]

Poor Steve. Somewhere there are people who have read this that will just as well assume he is a homosexual based on a random article and a suspicious process of elimination. Honestly people, let's not slander a player here. Call him talentless and bash his on-ice play all you want but let's not create rumours about things from left field here

How come its slander? Are you suggesting that its worse to be "rumoured to be gay" than being called talentless and bashing poor on-ice play? You just did something far worse than we did. You put "being gay" as derogatory.

Your theories about players not being gay because they are married is kind of flawed. Lots of people from my generation would get married and hide their "wrong" sexuality at all cost. Both Clark and Anderson could be or not be gay, it really doesn't matter. I was just intrigued by the riddle.

 

[tarheelhockey]

How come its slander? Are you suggesting that its worse to be "rumoured to be gay" than being called talentless and bashing poor on-ice play? You just did something far worse than we did. You put "being gay" as derogatory.

You beat me to it. I have seen a lot of genuine slander on this site that makes this thread pale in comparison.

IMO, the spectre of homosexuality in the locker room will end when an active player comes out. As noted in the article, players won't disown their own teammates over something so trivial.

 

[Zam Boni]

My son showed me this. I can't confirm authenticity ofcourse.

http://www.outsports.com/entertainment/20050218gumbybookexcerpt.htm

Otherwise I don't think anyone has admitted to homosexuality in the NHL. It's very rare in male hockey period. I know of only one player and I think he played in Sweden(?).

Correct, Peter Karlsson, stabbed to death.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Karlsson_(ice_hockey)

I dont recall if he was admittedly gay or not.

 

[pluppe]

thought of this sad sad story.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Karlsson_(ice_hockey)

I just hope this will never happen again.


and of course there are homosexual player in the NHL, both now and throughout history. level of masculinity is not a foolproof sign.

 

[matnor]

Oh geez, that article has been circulating around for quite some time. It's as phony as a two dollar bill. Now is there a gay player in NHL history? I'm sure there has been. That being said the NHL is the only one of the 4 major sports to not have someone "come out" after their career is over. Adam Proteau of The Hockey News wrote an article once practically begging an NHL player to come out. And people wonder why THN is irrelevant.

The Wendel Clark rumour is just one that doesn't die to this day. Clark is married. 4-5 years ago a nephew of mine talked to a man who designs rings/jewellery for famous people in the Toronto area. He claimed Clark was a nice man, but his wife was a gold digger. Clark is straight.

Glenn Anderson was someone else who aroused some suspicion for some reason. I think it might have a lot to do with the friend of his found dead in the swimming pool but that's as far as it goes. Anderson I believe right now is married too and if anything had bad press from being an absentee dad from a woman from Vancouver since 1989. Anderson is straight.

Other than that, unless someone can think of a name, I honestly can't think of an NHL player past or present who set of my "gay-dar" at any time. Hockey's a masculine game, you just don't see many moments where a player is anything but. Does any NHL player set off your "gay-dar?"

I'm sorry but this post is really ignorant. Of course there are gay players in the NHL. Not all gay people are the same (just as not all straight people are the same, kind of obvious) and you can't just tell who's gay and who's straight based on stereotypes. Add to that the fear of a lot of gay people to come out and it's kind of obvious why we can't name a gay player in the NHL.

 

[jkrx]

Does any NHL player set off your "gay-dar?"

Do/did these people set off your gay-dar?

Hockey's a masculine game, you just don't see many moments where a player is anything but.

You do know there is a difference between Homosexuality and transsexualism, right?

 

[Big Phil]

How come its slander? Are you suggesting that its worse to be "rumoured to be gay" than being called talentless and bashing poor on-ice play? You just did something far worse than we did. You put "being gay" as derogatory.

Your theories about players not being gay because they are married is kind of flawed. Lots of people from my generation would get married and hide their "wrong" sexuality at all cost. Both Clark and Anderson could be or not be gay, it really doesn't matter. I was just intrigued by the riddle.

At least when we bring up when Steve Smith shot the puck into his own net in 1986 and stopped what likely was 5 Cups in a row it actually happened! Slander happens here all the time but it's true at least when you bring up on-ice play. Not some fairy tale.

Put yourself in Steve Reinprecht's shoes. Or his father's. Or (is he married) his wife? Or his kids. Imagine reading this and having someone you care about be pretty much assumed to be gay without anything near proof. What are you the National Enquirer? If it's an interesting story just print it anyways right?