Gay Hockey Kid In MN

Possible the world’s bluntest headline, but when that’s the name adopted by the blogger themself it seems appropriate.

There’s a blog I found recently,directed that way by a friend after she saw it on OutSports. Now at http://www.hockeykidmn.com/, the blog is run by Mikey, a 17 year old member of a Minneapolis High School team who wants to play D1 college hockey next year. Oh and he happens to be gay and still in the closet.

Having only started blogging a few months ago, Mikey’s already got a fair few followers. His writing style, once you get past the utter teenage boy-ness of it (something that’s almost refreshing in showing that really, he’s just a completely normal kid right down to the slang and mispellings),  is humorous and captivating. He knows the stereotypes, the misconceptions people have about sexuality, being a teenager, and the whole gay athelte thing and does what he can to in most amusing fashion debunk these common myths.

It’s understandably rough that Mikey feels he needs to stay closeted, but with D1 aspirations, his homosexuality could very well damage his chances at the college scholarship that would make a huge difference to his hockey or general future. His guts in bloogging like this, in atleast finding this way where he can reach out for his own purposes, and in turn, provide some form of comfort to other kids struggling with the same issues, who atleast can know that they’re not the only one who feels like this.

My favourite part though? Mikey loves hockey.  Mikey really, really loves hockey. When writing about hockey, you can feel the pride he has in his role with the team, the importance that his contribution to the team has. So many 17 year olds in the sport wouldn’t have this understanding that hockey is much more than putting the puck in the net on the ice.

I hope one day, whether he becomes a superstar, a gritty forward or just another guy who played and loved hockey, Mikey will be able to be whoever he wants to be and let it be known.

For now though, I’ll keep on reading.

Tags: blogger