Melbourne Ice women will play their annual Pride game for the second time as they welcome the Adelaide Rush for Round 9 Australian Women’s Ice Hockey League (AWIHL) action.
Launched during the 2024/25 season, Ice women are the first team in AWIHL history to hold a specially themed Pride game.
Through partnerships with Proud 2 Play, Ice women are building connections from the top down through education and leadership.
“We support organisations taking steps to be more inclusive of the LGBTQIA+ community, and that includes both committees, players and supporting staff as well as fans,” Proud 2 Play Business Growth and Development Manager Kade Matthews told andrewkmacdougall.com.au
“To us, a Pride game isn’t just a once off affair, it’s something we build with education, support and work behind the scenes 365 days a year.
“Proud 2 Play partners with Melbourne Ice Women to both strengthen their own inclusion efforts around the game and to be present and a link to our wider LGBTQIA+ community.”
Education and learning key components
With a focus around education and learning about the LGBTIQ+ community during the first year, it allowed players to learn about their own identities.
Through these education initiatives it opens conversations where LGBTIQ+ players and allies can get a better understanding of LGBTIQ+ history.
Futhermore, shifting focus into year two of the annual Pride game and Ice women are now looking inward and how being authentic can help on ice performance.
“Everyone is learning – and that includes LGBTQIA+ members of the team,” continued Matthews.
“Our first year we came in with some scene setting education – who the community is, what all the letters and flags mean, and why this is important.
“Some players were surprised to know the history of their own identities in the first game – for instance, that there are flags that represent our lesbian, bisexual and pansexual communities.
“I think that’s important, for some, this is part of their own culture and own history, even if they don’t actively participate in pride events outside of the pride game.
“This year, we’ve done a bit more work with the team, talking about how performance and being your true self can enhance performance, and how we’re all responsible for creating safe and inclusive environments, even when our beliefs may clash.”
Creating meaningful change
Pride games and LGBTIQ+ themed events through hockey we see rainbow jerseys, flags, merchandise but often the grassroots side of education is missing.
Ice women have been on the front foot when it comes to doing a Pride game the right way.
Making sure that engagement through education, connecting with organisations like Proud 2 Play to build meaningful change.
“Melbourne Ice Women are a great squad to work with,” said Matthews.
“They’re really positive and proactive about the work and they reach out each year to ask “how can we do this and be bigger and better as a club, and as a celebration”.
“It’s very easy for clubs to run Pride games and rest on the laurels of work done years ago.
“Pride Games need constant engagement with the community, they need constant education with the player group and club, they need to be proactive in inviting lived experience in, and this isn’t true for other clubs.
“Melbourne Ice Women have the representation in the team, they have the links to community, and they have that proactive drive to be better.
“They’re doing things the right way.”
A players perspective
The impact of the Pride game was going to make a lasting impression on LGBTIQ+ players within the Ice squad.
Isabela Raymundo – who has appeared on the Pride & Puck Podcast to tell her story, is one player that feels the representation deeply.
Proudly visible on the ice throughout her AWIHL career, having a dedicated Pride game continues that strong advocacy.
“It means just as much and is just as special as last season,” Raymundo told andrewkmacdougall.com.au
“This is a round that means so much to me and a lot of the other athletes within the AW and the hockey community.
“I was lucky enough to be more involved in the planning process this year, so it is just that much closer to my heart.
“We have really pushed to get the word out there more and create more visibility for this round and to get the AW and our celebration of Pride out there.
“I have no doubt it is going to be as big, if not bigger, than our last Pride round.”
Wearing it with Pride
With each Pride game there are specially designed jerseys that the Ice women players will wear.
Heavily draped in rainbow it is the most visible design that the Ice team has worn in the two years of LGBTIQ+ celebration.
Wearing a jersey representing your community in a sport that is often lacking clear LGBTIQ+ visibility, has that extra special meaning.
“It is an absolute honour to be able to pull this jersey on this year and celebrate this amazing community,” continued Raymundo.
“I was able to work closely with Drew [Carfrae], our head coach, and the team at Kridgett [Kreations] to help design this year’s jersey.
“They were absolutely incredible in the collaboration process and bringing my ideas and vision to life.
“I feel very honoured to have had the opportunity to make this year’s design purposeful and as inclusive as possible.
“Playing with this group who have created such a safe space and being able to pull on the Melbourne Ice Jersey every week is always an honour.
“However, being able to pull on a jersey that I helped design, in a round that means so much to me, with a team that has been nothing short of incredible makes me so proud to be playing in this jersey with this group.”
Locker room inclusion
The hardest thing for a coach in sport is getting the buy-in from players for the direction you want to take the team.
When it comes to causes and pushing for equality like the LGBTQI+ community, that can come with its locker room challenges.
However, Ice women and the players that represent the red, white and blue know how important it is to create an environment that welcomes and educates.
“The education side has been amazing,” said Raymundo.
“We are very fortunate to be working with Kade Matthews and Proud2Play again this season and Kade ran a session for the team.
“Of course, the LGBTQIA+ space is ever changing so it is important to have sessions like this.
“More importantly, homophobia, transphobia and discrimination is unfortunately still very prevalent in sports.
“We are lucky enough to have Kade and Proud2Play give us the strategies and tools to be able to keep the Melbourne Ice, the AW, and the hockey community an inclusive, safe space for everyone, irregardless of sexuality and gender identity.
“Ice Hockey is for everyone, and it is important to us a team to have the knowledge surrounding the community and what our role is in creating safe spaces for the community.”
A safe space for LGBTIQ+ community
Pride games are not just for the established hockey fan or player that is part of the LGBTIQ+ community, it’s about opening doors for new fans to feel comfortable.
The Heated Rivalry craze has created a new group of fandom for queer people finding hockey and representation.
For the Ice women and their push to make AWIHL a place for everyone, it isn’t just a box ticking exercise, but a meaningful part of their club fabric now.
“Come down and have a look,” continued Matthews.
“Like many sports, the women’s game needs our support, and this isn’t a marketing ploy.
“Many of the players are part of community, they are genuinely invested.
“If you’re part of the LGBTQIA+ community, or an ally, and want to see that LGBTQIA+ representation in sport, then it’s right here, right now.
“Come down, buy a ticket, get a jersey, get a raffle ticket, have a chat to Proud 2 Play or the club.
“All of this is going back in to support the club and Proud 2 Play.
“It’s the best outcome for LGBTQIA+ people in top level Australian hockey.”
From a player’s perspective this isn’t just about highlighting the Ice women program and what is being built.
It’s an all encompassing look into the world of the AWIHL and what the league, who is leading the way in terms of trans and non-binary inclusion, is all about.
This Pride game is celebrating every corner of the AWIHL community, locker room to locker room, tape to tape and fan to fan.
“No matter what team you back, whether it’s us [Ice], the Rush or any other team in the league, this round is one that everyone can and should get behind,” continued Raymundo.
“Whether that’s coming down to the District [Docklands] to watch us at the rink, putting in for the auction of our jerseys or streaming the game from wherever it is in the world you are.
“It is all about visibility – you never know what impact you can have on someone just from watching the game.
“Celebrating pride in sport, openly and unapologetically is so utterly important in making sure that queer athletes know that this is a safe space for them. That this sport is for them.
“No matter who they love or what they identify as, this sport is for them, and they deserve to know that, and they deserve to be celebrated.
“So come down to Docklands to watch us – Saturday at 5pm. Bid on our jerseys. Watch the stream on YouTube. “It is the little things that can make all of the difference.”
Leave a Reply