June 22nd, 2010
If you make it to the Gay Pride parade in Chicago on June 27, keep your eye out for the Chicago Gay Hockey Association; they’ll be the guys on roller blades “skating” down the street. And with them will be Brent Sopel, defenseman with the reigning Chicago Blackhawk, who will be marching with his family and with the Stanley Cup, the international ice hockey trophy entrusted into the keeping of the winning team each year. (Sun Times)
“I am honored to do it,” said Sopel, who will be accompanied by wife, Kelly, and his four kids, Jacob, 12, Lyla, 8, Jayla, 6, and Paul, 20, whom they adopted three years ago after Paul’s parents died within six months of each other.
“The power of the Cup is incomprehensible, and we recognize the importance of doing this,” said McDonough, who has arranged for the Stanley Cup to be flown back from the National Hockey League draft in Los Angeles 15 hours early. “It’s important for the city and important for the franchise.”
Sopel was motivated to participate by the story of Brandon Burke, a young hockey player and legacy who came out in a way that inspired acceptance within the hockey world and who died this year in a driving accident.
But the Stanley Cup will not be the only sports icon at Chicago Pride. Living legend Ernie Banks (“Mr. Cub”), a Baseball Hall of Famer who was the first black player for the Chicago Cubs in 1953 and who went on to play 18 years for the franchise, will be there to represent the club. The Chicago Cubs, will be, to the best of my knowledge, the first professional sports team to sponsor their own float in a gay pride parade.
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Priya Lynn
June 22nd, 2010
The Chicago Blackhawks had been the team that went the longest without winning the cup, they last one it in 1961. Now the team that has gone the longest without winning it is my Toronto Maple Leafs who haven’t won it since 1967.
Priya Lynn
June 22nd, 2010
LOL, brain fart – “last one it” should be “last won it”.
DN
June 22nd, 2010
First black Cubs player, *and* the Stanley Cup in a Pride parade. Anyone care to lay odds that the coverage will focus entirely on gogo boys and other lascivious floats?
I know they don’t write stories about houses that don’t burn down. But at some point, the fact that nobody reports on the humdrum 90% of the parade that is PFLAG, political candidates, and gay sports teams *is* a house that has burned down!
Burr
June 22nd, 2010
I guess that makes up for the whole “Chris Pronger is gay” thing in the locker room. Although who knows, maybe it wasn’t even a player that did that.
Very cool anyhow. The cup is a treat to see in person and I’m glad it was the Hawks over the Flyers in the end.
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