Involvement in sport can be a daunting prospect for many trans people, from traumatic memories of past bullying to fears of a culture that won’t accept them as they are. But for these three ice hockey players, the rink has become a huge part of their lives.

All three have very different stories. One, a kid who grew up with hockey a core part of her family from the very beginning. Another who didn’t start until his early 30s but eventually became good enough to play at a national level. And one who just finished her first ever season on the ice.

All three share one thing in common – they’re proud trans players who love playing hockey.

The lifelong hockey player

Ella Licari started hockey young. Her father was a referee, and as a child she’d head to the rink with him to watch, eventually taking to the ice as a player when she was 10 years old.

Despite originally wanting to play in goal, her dad had other plans.

“My Dad held me off pulling on the pillows and made me play as a player first. He wanted me to learn to skate properly and learn to think as a player, which has definitely helped me be a much better goalie.”

Ella recently joined Sydney’s Harbour Lights

There must have been something to this strategy, with Ella eventually playing in goal at a national level for the Australian Women’s Ice Hockey League’s (AWIHL) Sydney Sirens.

Rising to this level of elite hockey as a trans woman wasn’t without its challenges. When Ella transitioned, there were no prominent trans role models in women’s elite hockey.

“From the outset I wanted to play in the AWIHL for the Sirens, but back then there were no trans female players playing at this level seemingly anywhere. There was Harrison Browne, a trans man, playing in the NWHL, but no precedent for trans females at a national level.

“I had to try to convince, educate and lobby for my inclusion in the beginning. Fortunately, the AWIHL was open minded about it, and while we proceeded cautiously, it all worked out in the end.”

Despite these initial challenges, Ella found a family with the Sydney Sirens. Her team saw her for who she truly was right from the outset. And when a player from another team made transphobic comments, the team, and the rest of the league, rallied behind her.

“Unfortunately, I did experience a small transphobic moment from a player on another team in that first year. Which was really disappointing, but the beautiful result of this situation was the support that came flooding in from other girls in the league from other teams that had heard about the situation and expressed how they were ‘with me’ on it.”

The late starter who picked it up quickly

Bron Bird also developed an interest in hockey at an early age, but it was much later in life that he strapped on some skates and started playing. Like many Australian hockey players, a certain Disney film was the starting point for his love of hockey.

“Hockey was like my ‘dream’ sport as a kid after watching The Champions (which was the Aussie title for The Mighty Ducks) - but I ended up focusing on music and studying.

“I think for me as a teenager playing guitar and drums was a perfect independent activity and skill for me to immerse myself in. You could be alternative - you could express yourself on stage.”

Inspired at an early age by The Mighty Ducks, Bron eventually became a hockey player himself at 32

Like many young LGBT+ people who fear the consequences of being outed or bullied through participation in sport, Bron mostly avoided sports growing up, despite being athletic.

“I was always terrified and anxious about change rooms as I was never comfortable with my body and possibly being outed or bullied for being a tomboy or gay. So I tried to avoid those situations and just played music for the longest time, and really focussed on my career.”

“Even as an adult I was brought back to a space I wasn’t comfortable in - the change rooms. The change rooms can be a terrifying space for any LGBTQI person.

“Even now I still find it a little challenging - I keep my head down but look for people who might be trying to suss me out - look at my chest for scars (sorry y’all - a great big tattoo covers that up) or look to see if I have had bottom surgery. It’s probably my own paranoia. No one probably really cares. But I get people are curious creatures too.”

Despite these concerns, at 32 Bron finally picked up a hockey stick and started playing. Even though he started a little later in life, he quickly excelled at the game, eventually playing a season for AWIHL’s Melbourne Ice Womens only 6 months before he started his transition.

“I would never trade in that experience and am thankful for it and to have played with some exceptional talent.”

The brand new player

Lukah also started playing as an adult. At the start of 2021, a close friend who was involved in rock climbing with her introduced her to the Southern Lights and encouraged her to get involved.

“From the first moment on the ice, I was hooked. Now I train at home as well as any other opportunities that come up to improve.”

The Southern Lights helped introduce Lukah to hockey in an environment where she could be comfortable being herself while she learnt the game.

Lukah began playing hockey in 2021 with Melbourne’s Southern Lights

“I was lucky to have been introduced straight into the Southern Lights, so I was very comfortable from day one knowing that it was a safe place.

“I also like that it was a mixed team so I wouldn't have to worry about people getting up in arms about a trans woman playing alongside cis women.”

Seeing other trans players participating in the sport was also reassuring to Lukah when she first got involved, and being part of a team that stood behind its inclusive values helped a lot.

“I always thought I hated team sports, when in reality I didn’t like the bullying and toxic environment associated with them at school. It was only when I joined the Southern Lights that I realised what a team sport should be about.”

“It was also nice knowing that Bron and Ella were playing, so I wasn't alone.”

In the short few months since Lukah started, she’s been welcomed by the broader hockey community as well as the Southern Lights.

“Since starting playing, I’ve played in women's only events with the Melbourne Chargers and had no issues - they treated me like everyone else, and have offered me more opportunities to play in a women-only team.”

How could hockey be better for trans players?

At the community level, awareness and a focus on fostering a more inclusive environment among the hockey community is a common theme identified by all three players, from improving education around the harm of transphobic language to increasing the visibility of trans players at various levels of the game.

According to Ella, awareness around inappropriate and harmful language is a very important piece of the puzzle.

“The language isn’t necessarily coming from a malicious place, but that kind of unaware phobic speech can really make it hard for people that are different in whatever way, to feel safe to be themselves and have the confidence to be out and be proud.”

This awareness goes hand in hand with increased visibility. In Lukah’s opinion, hockey could help dispel some of the impressions of it as not being a safe place for LGBT+ people through giving clear symbols to people the sport is welcoming for all.

“I think visibility is important, and the use of symbols like the trans flag and rainbow flag being displayed throughout hockey give a clear sign that we are welcome.”

Lukah also believes that making hockey more accessible overall is an important part of making trans players feel more welcome in the sport.

“Hockey’s an expensive sport to get started in and I think we have to be aware that not all people have the privilege to be able to buy all the equipment and pay season fees when they’re first starting out.

“Trans people already have a lot of potential hurdles as far as employment, housing difficulties, mental health and support from family and friends due to discrimination and transphobia.”

Providing more opportunities for players who do face some of these difficulties could help get a lot more players from marginalised communities, believes Lukah.

Ella also believes there’s a responsibility for the elite levels of hockey to do better around their policies for trans players. For example, she thinks it’s time for bodies like the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) to adopt new policies that allow trans athletes to participate more easily.

“I was on the National Women’s Team squad for the World Championships in 2017, but without any precedent for trans players, discussions seem to be difficult and stalled. Time ran out and I was unfortunately not cleared to play for Australia.

“I’d really like to see the IIHF adopt some trans athlete standards and policies to make sure that no other trans athlete meets that brick wall of the unknown.”

Hopefully the first of many players joining the sport

As a sport that’s often played in mixed gender teams, with inclusive teams popping up around the country, there’s a lot to be hopeful about for trans players’ participation in the future.

According to Bron, “I kind of feel like you’re put into two camps at hockey - you’re either good or not so good. It doesn’t matter what gender you are.”

And for any future trans players thinking of joining the sport, he wants players to take some encouragement from the players already participating.

“As a trans amateur athlete who’s healthy, happy, visible, successful, and who gets to be who he is, I want everyone to see that. I exist. I have a space here. I eat, sleep and my heart beats the same as yours. Sometimes I’m good at hockey, and I chirp at everyone equally.”

Being trans in Australian ice hockey: three players share their perspectives