March 31, 2026March 31, 2026

USA Hockey Transgender Ban

Today is Transgender Day of Visibility. Today, we are holding USA Hockey accountable for the harm they are doing to the queer community.

USA Hockey recently adopted a new eligibility policy in response to pressure from the current administration that erases trans people from daily life. This policy harms a significant portion of our community, particularly those who are trans, non-binary, and/or intersex, because it:

1. Only allows people to play in gender-restricted leagues that match the sex they were assigned at birth.
2. Prohibits anyone who has undergone masculinizing HRT from playing in any gender-restricted league.
3. Applies to all levels of hockey (yes, even adult recreational leagues)

The Madison Gay Hockey Association’s central mission is to provide opportunities to play hockey for people who have historically felt marginalized in traditional sports settings. We’re committed to putting those people in pads, giving them a stick, and teaching them to love the game as much as we do.

The MGHA will not be complicit in any attempt to remove trans people from daily life. We are re-evaluating our relationship with USA Hockey and pursuing alternatives that don’t actively harm our community.

Trans people will always be welcome in the MGHA, no matter what else is going on in the world. You’re important, you matter, and our league is better because you are in it.

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What Gay Hockey Means to Me

I was still full of adrenaline as we made our way back to the locker room. It pumped through my ears so loudly; I could barely hear my coaches announce me as player of the game. I did a double take. Me? Surely not. I was nowhere near as good as my teammates. And yet, my coaches had seen past that. They had seen my hard work and determination. They appreciated that I was trying not because of my skill, but my lack of it. They knew what it was like to be in my skates and recognized me for trying my best. They welcomed me for who I was.
Susan Nolan

Meet Our Players

New to Hockey? Learn to Play!

The Madison Gay Hockey Association is a non-profit, all-gender hockey league designed for the LGBTQIA+ community. We have players from all levels of hockey, from never skated before to folks who have played in college and beyond. Never played hockey before? Learn to play with us!

Apply to join the MGHA!