Successful discussion of gay issues at American Hockey Coaches Association convention

Via Outsports, a press release on the GForce session at the American Hockey Coache Association meeting (see our earlier post HERE):

Naples, FL – Philadelphia Flyers scout Patrick Burke and members of GForce Sports this afternoon told members of the American Hockey Coaches Association that coaches must take responsibility for positive attitudes toward gay athletes in their locker rooms.

“Coaches set the tone for a team, not just on the ice, court or field of play, but in the locker room and other parts of sports,” Burke said. “It is up to coaches to start the dialogue about gay players and then guarantee that safe locker rooms lead to better athletes.”

Burke, son of Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke, began speaking on behalf of gay athletes following the death of his younger brother, Brendan Burke, an openly gay member of Miami University’s hockey team last year. Miami coach Rico Blasi introduced Burke at the AHCA conference, telling the coaches that his team’s experience with a gay teammate enriched and changed all of their lives.

Read more HERE.