Trans ice hockey player slams USA Hockey’s ‘quiet’ trans ban as ‘horrible’ new rules discovered
Harrison Browne in Pink Light (Film still)
Harrison Browne in Pink Light (Film still)
Trans hockey star Harrison Browne has condemned USA Hockey’s “quiet” trans ban, describing the new rules as “horrible”.
In 2016, Browne became the first openly trans professional ice hockey player, paving the way for other LGBTQ+ sports stars, such as former pro hockey player Jesse Kortuem to come out.
Browne, who stars in gay sports drama Heated Rivalry as Connors, Ilya’s teammate and player for the Boston Raiders, has now spoke out about USA Hockey’s new “Participant Eligibility Policy”.
Taking to Instagram, Browne shared a video in which he spoke about the organisation’s latest guidelines, which were approved in November 2025, but not immediately announced to the public. The changes will go into effect on 1 April, 2026.
The history-making hockey player-turned actor condemned the policy, which effectively bars trans athletes from sex-restricted programs, describing the move as one that has “quietly barred trans people from participating in hockey safely. Myself included”.
“It’s no surprise that men’s hockey is not a safe environment for gender non-conforming individuals and the women’s side is often the only place for most queer people to play. Barring trans individuals from these spaces essentially bars us from hockey. Horrible,” he wrote in the caption.
USA Hockey’s updated rules overturn its previous “USA Hockey Transgender Athlete Eligibility Policy” which was adopted in January 2019. “That policy is now superseded by this Participant Eligibility Policy,” the new policy states.
Trans athletes can no longer compete in its competitions, even if trans girls suppress testosterone or trans boys take testosterone for boys.
The new policy means athletes are only allowed to register for hockey programs based on “sex assigned at birth”.
The policy adds: “A female (as assigned at birth) may not play in programs restricted to females if they have undergone any male hormone therapy.”
“Trans men are effectively barred from men’s recreational leagues,” Browne said of the policy.
The youth, school and adaptive programs remain without sex-based restrictions, although a disclaimer notes: “High School/Prep Hockey, and some Adult teams, leagues or events are restricted by their internal rules to males or females.”
The updated policy falls in line with the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC), which stipulates that each sport’s national governing body must “update and adopt their own policies to follow federal guidance”.
In compliance with president Donald Trump’s “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports”, the USOPC barred trans women from women’s Olympic competitions last year.
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