Harrison, Formerly Hailey, Scores in Debut as Transgender Player

Up until the season-opening game on Friday, 23-year-old Harrison went by the name of Hailey Browne.

Harrison is NWHL’s first transgender player. (Photo Courtesy: Twitter/Hbrowne24)

The National Women's Hockey League's first transgender player scored a goal in his debut, and finally got an opportunity to hear his name announced over the PA system how he always felt it should have been.

Up until the season-opening game on Friday, the 23-year-old went by the name of Hailey Browne. He then publically announced that he preferred to be known as Harrison and identified himself as a male.

It was unreal. I’ve never felt something like that before.

Harrison Browne

Harrison Browne got to hear his name again after the final buzzer, when the Buffalo forward was named the game's second star in the Beauts' 4-1 loss to the Boston Pride on Friday night.

Browne initially planned to undergo the medical transition to being a man after completing his college career at Maine. However he put that on hold in the spring of 2015, when he got an opportunity to play for the Beauts in the four-team NWHL's inaugural season.

Nothing’s Changed

Beauts coach and former NHL player, Ric Seiling, said nothing's changed in his approach toward Harrison, noting he's always referred to the player as "Brownie."

"This is Harrison's decision and I support whatever they decide," Seiling said. "The team has had no reaction. It's still the same person that walks into that dressing room every day. It's still the same person that puts on his skates the same way. There's no difference."

NWHL Commissioner Dani Rylan too said she is fully supportive of Browne's decision to announce his gender identity, and hopes he can play a role in educating others.

(With inputs from AP.)