CWHL welcomes 1st openly transgender player

Toronto Furies forward Jessica Platt has come out as transgender, making her the first openly transgender athlete to compete in the Canadian Women's Hockey League.

Platt posted a message on Instagram on Wednesday night announcing her decision to go public with her gender identity, thanking her friends, family and the CWHL for their support.

"I want people to know you don't have to quit pursuing your dreams to be the person you were meant to be," she said.

Platt, 28, is in her first full season with the Furies after playing four games as an alternate in 2016-17. The Sarnia, Ont., native recorded her first career goal in a Dec. 9. game against Montreal.

"Inclusivity has always been a major strength of our league and with (Wednesday's) announcement that has only been reaffirmed," CWHL commissioner Brenda Andress said in a release.

Platt is the second professional hockey player to come out as transgender. National Women's Hockey League player Harrison Browne, who was assigned as female at birth but identifies as a man, announced he was transgender in October 2016.