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Coors Cup
continues to Grow
By
Ross Forman
Outsports.com
WESTMINSTER, Colo. - The
Coors Cup
continues to grow – in and out of the LGBT community.
The 3rd
annual Coors Cup hockey tournament, held here in suburban
Denver August 31 – Sept. 3 at the Ice Centre at the
Promenade, was the largest ever. About 165 players skated
(about 25 of which were female), comprising 13 teams (five
competitive, four recreational and four developmental).
“We try to
create a positive experience for everyone, and we really try
to make it a good value for everyone,” said tournament
director Roger Wilson.
The host
Colorado Climax defeated the Consenting Adults, 8-0, to
capture the Competitive Division title, thus earning the
$1,000 for their charity of choice: Project Angel Heart.
Kirby Pumper had four goals and an assist.
The
Albuquerque Ass Kickers defeated the
Colorado Climax
Too, 4-2, for the Recreational Division title, earning
$1,000 for the Seattle Erotic Arts Festival. The Mighty
Schmucks needed overtime to edge the Rock ‘em Sock ‘em
Robots, 3-2, to claim the Developmental Division crown and
the $1,000 donation for the Colorado Sled Hockey.
“Everything went real smooth;
there were no surprises. We were very happy,” Wilson said.
“The Competitive Division has gotten a lot stronger.”
This year’s tourney featured two
straight teams and two other predominantly straight teams.
The straight teams, Wilson said, “feel comfortable in this
tournament and it really helps break down stereotypes.”
In addition to the Coors Brewing
Company serving as the event’s title sponsor, there also are
seven other mid-level sponsors, including Hamburger Mary’s
and Instinct Magazine.
The 2008 Coors Cup will be held
Labor Day weekend in Los Angeles as Denver and Los Angeles
rotate annually. Wilson said the 2009 event might be held a
different weekend in Denver due to the OutGames; same for
2010 due to the Gay Games.
“The
Coors Cup has developed into, arguably, the best gay hockey
tournament in the nation,” said Chuck Jacobson, founder of
the Chicago Gay Hockey Association (CGHA) and a winger for
the Chicago Blackwolves.
But don’t
think the Coors Cup is just about hockey. Take, for
instance, the L.A. Blades. They went into their fourth game
of the tournament in the Competitive Division needing five
points to advance to the playoffs, but managed only four and
after admitted they were quite tired … mainly from dancing –
shirtless, of course – until the wee hours of the morning
the night before.
Sept. 17, 2007 |
