Ripple Effect: Twin Cities Queer Hockey Association 

“We taught our children when you throw a rock in a pond, what happens? Ripples.” Dani Bennett-Danek says. She and her spouse Cam Danek-Bennett are explaining the ripple effect principle that drives not only the way they operate the Twin Cities Queer Hockey Association (TCQHA), but also their personal lives. The pair is cognizant about how their decisions create ripple effects, which leads them to act both decisively and compassionately with an eye to the future. Cam picks up where Dani left off, “With everything we do, we have that in mind. If we do this, how will it affect other people?”

TCQHA is a beloved queer hockey league, in large part because of this guiding principle. The league not only gives people the opportunity to play a sport they love (or have always wanted to try) but provides an inclusive, supportive community both on and off the ice. “There is something about hockey that has a community and a bond,” says Cam, “It’s next level. It’s family.”

Cam personally experienced this years ago. Their hockey team at the time helped them move and rebuild their life after a devastating breakup. Now they – along with Dani – strive to bring that same energy to TCQHA. “Right now, we have three trans players who are going through major surgery,” says Dani, “We always offer meals. We offer help being cared for after [the surgery]. I put an APB out in our chat…and [people help however they can].”

Similarly, when Cam and Dani noticed that a player was struggling to hold his stick (he lost his fingers from bacterial meningitis when he was young) they asked him if he’d like to troubleshoot. Enlisting the help of another league member who has a 3D printer, the four of them worked collaboratively to cast and mold several different versions of a device that they’re calling “hockey hands”.  

In TCQHA “everyone is welcome” does not just mean that everyone is invited. It means being a part of a community that wants to support you as a player and a person, which is empowering both on the giving and receiving end of the support. 

Creating an environment of camaraderie that centers around love of the game instead of competition is another central focus of TCQHA. “Nobody gets to pick on somebody because they’re the worst player and bully them until they leave the team,” says Dani, “because then you just go after the next worst player and the next worst player.” She pauses, “Rule one is ‘Don’t be an asshole. Rule two, three, and four are ‘See rule one.’”

This is not a toothless policy.  It has not happened often, but occasionally a player is pulled aside to discuss behavior that negatively impacts the team. Offenders get the one warning to turn it around and, more often than not, they do. “We want to win but at the end of the day that is not the most important thing,” says Cam. 

Everyone is welcome, regardless of age, race, gender, sexuality, socio-economic status, the list goes on. “You just have to be big enough to hold your own,” says Dani, “We don’t want anything to be a barrier. Money, fear, locker rooms. So if you are struggling, let us know and we will figure something out.”

For those who are interested in playing, the contact form on the TCQHA website is the best way to get connected with the team, which is linked below. The bulk of games are played at ice rinks in Minneapolis. TCQHA also gets ice time in Brooklyn Park and occasionally plays at the Xcel Energy Center as well. The team meets all year round and charges $12/skate during the summer and $17/skate during the winter, but if fees are ever an issue there is a scholarship fund (which you can donate to at the Venmo listed at the end of this article) to help get everyone on the ice. Some skaters even pay a little extra for ice time to keep everyone coming through difficult times. 

TCQHA accepts donations of used gear which is then provided for players. Needs vary widely. There are players who have outgrown their old gear, are new to the game (sixty out of their original 100 registrations had never played hockey before), or just can’t afford to purchase a full hockey kit in one go. To donate, you can reach out on that same contact form on the website. 

The team also hosts occasional Wild watch parties at EAGLE|MPLS, which is one of the team’s largest sponsors. This is a great option for anyone who wants to plug into the community but does not want to play. The next is February 7^th at 8:30 PM and again, everyone is welcome.

Since its inception, TCQHA has allowed allies to be a part of the league. “We don’t gatekeep,” says Cam. This decision has occasionally received pushback, but after experiencing the slow exodus of players from a team they used to play on because it was not inclusive enough, the obvious choice is to err in the opposite direction. 

“There’s so much hockey in Minnesota,” says Dani, “[Allies] don’t need to skate with us. These are allies who sit on DEI committees of General Mills and Medtronic. These are allies that marry us. These are allies whose children are transitioning and they’re trying to understand what that means.”

“These are people who are good humans,” says Cam, “And that’s our one rule.”

The ripple effect of TCQHA is as beautiful as it is vast. It has impacted countless players, offering not only a fun team to play with, but also a supportive community that extends beyond the ice. I would encourage any of our readers to set another ripple in motion by joining the team for a watch party, joining the league, or supporting the people involved with a gear or monetary donation. 

You never know how far that one action will spread until you throw the stone and see where the ripples spread. 

www.tcqha.org
Venmo: TCQHA (2365)