Doug Allen never thought about playing hockey while growing up in Muskegon, Michigan. Despite having attended Muskegon Lumberjacks hockey games and ice skating every winter, he never played.

Years later, while living in Austin, Texas, Doug read about a gay hockey league in Dallas. He confesses, That sounded like the strangest thing I had ever heard of. I had just never thought of hockey as a gay friendly sport.

After moving to New York City in 2002, Doug learned not only that there are indeed gay-hockey leagues but also that New York has one. Intrigued, he started taking skating lessons at Chelsea Piers, figuring that if it went well he would take hockey lessons too. However, with the encouragement and support of Jeff Kagan, Doug skipped the hockey lessons and joined the NYCGHA in the fall of 2003. It has really been a blast. The players on my team are great and I really enjoy the sport. Saturday night is now the best night of my week.

Doug works as a financial advisor for Merrill Lynch.