A former University of Maine women’s hockey standout, now playing in the National Women’s Hockey League, has come out as the first openly transgender player in American professional sports, according to an ESPN report.
Harrison Browne, known as Hailey Browne when he played three years of college hockey in Orono, plays for the NWHL’s Buffalo Beauts.
According to the ESPN report, Harrison Browne had planned to transition medically after graduating from UMaine, but the spring 2015 creation of the NWHL put that decision on hold.
“On the ice, when I put that equipment on, I’m a hockey player,” Browne told ESPN. “I don’t think about who I’m playing with, I don’t think I’m playing with women. I don’t think I’m in the wrong body.”
In his first season in Buffalo, the native of Oakville, Ontario, tallied five goals and seven assists in 18 games.
Browne was a key cog in leading the UMaine women’s program to its first-ever home Hockey East postseason series as a senior in 2014-15.
The Black Bears posted a 9-11-1 mark in Hockey East play that season and hosted the University of Connecticut in a Hockey East playoff clash.
Browne finished his three-year career at UMaine with 12 goals and 21 assists. He had a career-best 17 points (7 & 10) as a senior.
Before coming to Orono, Browne played one season at Mercyhurst College in Pennsylvania, collecting five points (3 & 2).
Browne and the Beauts were scheduled to open the NWHL regular season in Buffalo on Friday night against the Boston Pride, which defeated the Beauts in the league championship series last season.
