Gay Hockey All-Stars Down
Elite Straight Team
Game adds competitive zest to Aspen
Gay Ski Week
Denver,
Colo. – A team of elite, gay, ice hockey all-stars from
across North America defeated a team of elite,
international, heterosexual players on January 20 in Aspen,
Colo., in what has become one of the most popular
attractions at the annual
Aspen Gay Ski Week. A capacity crowd watched as the Gay
All-Stars beat Eurotrash 5-3 in the Aspen Ice Hockey Gay
Invitational, which was billed as the Battle of the Sexual
Orientations IV, held at Lewis Arena in the Aspen Recreation
Center (ARC).
It was the second consecutive victory for the
gay team in as many years, after losing the first pair of
games, each by one goal.
“This was
another exciting, highly competitive game with lots of pride
on the line,” said Glenn Witman, defenseman for the gay team
and the game’s organizer. “Both teams left it all out on the
ice.”
Witman assembled the team of high caliber
players from gay teams throughout the U.S. and Canada,
including players from his own Denver-based team; several
players from the five-time league champions, the Coors Light
Colorado Climax from Denver; and from teams in
New York City, Atlanta,
Minneapolis, St. Louis, Houston, Montreal and Quebec City.
Eurotrash was comprised of players originally from European
countries who live in and around Aspen, and who have played
with each other on teams in the Aspen Men’s Hockey league
for six years.
“Drawing
the top gay players to Aspen for this game was easy,” Witman
added. “The opportunity to defeat a straight team of
world-class players while enjoying the friendship and
festivities of Gay Ski Week was irresistible.”
The Gay All-Stars jumped out to a 4-0 lead,
including three goals in the first period by
Keith Miller (Denver), Kirby
Pumper (Minneapolis), and Jesse Field (Houston). Eurotrash
responded with a pair of goals in the second period to pull
within two. The teams traded goals in the third period.
Other goals for the gay team came from Dave Simpson (New
York City) and Kurt Gabrielson (Minneapolis). George Maresh,
starting goalie for the Climax, secured the win.
A pool
party was held at the ARC in tandem with the hockey game.
Witman hosted the gay team at a house in Aspen, lending to
an esprit de corps that Witman believes played a role in the
team’s victory
“It was a great atmosphere and demonstrated
again the unique bond that exists on gay hockey teams,”
Witman said. “I don’t know if the straight team took us
lightly, but I’m sure they are looking forward to another
shot at beating us next year,” Witman said. “We’ll be ready
for them.”
Denver,
Colo. – A team of elite, gay, ice hockey all-stars from
across North America defeated a team of elite,
international, heterosexual players on January 20 in Aspen,
Colo., in what has become one of the most popular
attractions at the annual