He hails from Hockeytown USA, has been playing hockey for 20 years and knows quite a bit about a Zamboni.
So who better to take over the reigns of the Chicago Gay Hockey Association ( CGHA ) than Andrew Sobotka, 24, a Detroit native who started skating at age 2.
Sobotka, who has lived in Chicago for three years, works in technical support for an online media company. He was recently named the CGHA's new team president.
"I am really excited to take over as president of the CGHA," said Sobotka, who lives in Lake View. "In the few months I've been with the organization, we have accomplished a lot of work and have a really good support system to keep to momentum moving.
"Our main goal [ for the team ] at the moment is recruitment. Someday we would like to run our own league, similar to what they have in Madison or New York City. We are also determined to give back to the hockey community and to grow better players in a safe and fun environment."
Despite friendly criticism from his teammates, Sobotka remains loyal to his Detroit roots—specifically, the Red Wings. His favorite National Hockey League players are Henrik Zetterberg, Darren Helm and Buffalo Grove native Brett Lebda.
"Hands down, the Red Wings [ are my favorite ] , and I make no apologies for my allegiance," said Sobotka, who graduated from Michigan State University in 2007 with a degree in digital media arts and technology. "Growing up in Detroit, so much of my life revolved around hockey. The entire city lives and breathes hockey, so it's a really great atmosphere to foster hockey players."
His dad, Al, has worked for the Red Wings for more than 35 years. Al is the building manager of Joe Louis Arena, the Wings' home rink, and the Zamboni driver—plus he's even the namesake for the Wings' mascot, Al the Octopus.
"I spent my life riding around on the Zamboni with my dad, but I have never driven it," the younger Sobotka said.
"I joined the CGHA fairly recently; this is my first season with the team. I joined because I wanted to keep playing, and I had an interest to see what a gay team could offer. I am really happy that I joined and have made a lot of friends with the guys on the team; we all have each other's back. It's a really safe environment to be an openly gay hockey player."
The CGHA plays in a straight league in Northbrook, and the team has not had any anti-gay issues, he said: "All of the other teams are respectful of us, as we are of them."
Sobotka and several CGHA teammates went to Wisconsin May 1-2 for the inaugural Madison Gay Hockey Classic. Sobotka was a team captain and his team went undefeated on its way to the championship.
Sobotka also has participated with his CGHA teammates this spring in floor hockey at Pottawattamie Park, run by the Chicago Metropolitan Sports Association.
"It was a great experience and allowed [ the CGHA ] to extend our reach from ice hockey to floor hockey," he said.
Sobotka said the CGHA will not be sending a team to Cologne this summer for the Gay Games, "but we'll be putting together a team for the Gay Games in 2014 as well as attending various [ other ] tournaments across the country."
The CGHA is starting its summer season in May, and will run through August; in addition, the CGHA's Chicago Blackwolves will take on the Illiana Misfits May 14 at North Shore Ice Arena in a playoff game. For more information, visit www.chicagogayhockey.org .
