Player number: 22
Position: Center
Shoot: Right
Height: 5' 6"
Weight: 155 lbs.
Hometown: Atlanta, GA
Current career: I work in healthcare development and help to raise enormous amounts of money for breakthroughs in research and care. I also spend a large amount of my time improving my skills as an ice hockey referee and training other officials so that they can do the same. I’ve been doing that since I was 14, have worked at some absolutely amazing levels of hockey, and love it just as much as I love playing!
Background: I began playing on the typical teams (house, travel, and high school), and hockey immediately became a huge part of my life. Eventually, I picked where I went to college based on its strength as a hockey market just as much as the strength of the academic programs. I continued to play hockey, first for the University of Denver’s club hockey team and then for the local gay team, the Colorado Climax.
After I graduated, I moved to Atlanta for work, and after a few years paying my dues in the job market, jumped back into playing and refereeing hockey. Now, during hockey season, I spend between three and six days a week at one of the local rinks.
Best hockey experience: I’ve been fortunate to have a lot of great hockey experiences. Playing in the state championship game my final year in high school was awesome. I have also enjoyed playing with GForce in Chicago, Nashville, Toronto, and Aspen. Going to the 2009 Frozen Four in Washington, DC, a Michigan/Michigan State game at Joe Louis Arena, and the 2008 NHL All Star Game in Atlanta were all very cool as well.
Favorite NHL team: I’m a far bigger college hockey fan than I am of any NHL program, however I pull for the Atlanta Thrashers since they’re my hometown team.
Favorite NHL player: None
Pets: Aspen, a rescue dog
Favorite place you’ve visited: I absolutely love to travel internationally, so there are too many to list. However, here are a few: Vancouver, BC; Montreal, QC; Paris, France; Jerusalem, Israel; Florence, Italy; Dahab, Egypt; Antigua, Guatemala; Kobe, Japan; and Caye Caulker, Belize. Unfortunately, my list of places to go is much, much longer!
Favorite beverage: Yuengling beer.
Favorite sport outside of hockey: Baseball. In the sun. With a beer.
If I could eat anything it would be . . . cheese ravioli (with extra cheese).
If I could be anywhere right now it would be . . . in a new country meeting people with different backgrounds, different beliefs, different stories, different economics, and different values.
When I step on the ice, I feel . . . a desire to skate as hard and as fast as I can!
If a gay hockey player sat in front of me, I would . . . remind them that skill and character, not sexual orientation, are what determine success (on and off the ice).
