> [!quote|no-t c-p-sm bg-c-blue txt-c] > “Keep your heart up.” > [!infobox|wikipedia] > # Biel Sheppard > ![[placeholder.png]] > > | | | > | ---- | ---- | > | **Born** | 8 Apr 1969 <br>Toronto, Ontario | > | **Died** | 3 Mar 2004 (aged 35) <br>Montreal, Quebec |> > | **Manner of death** | [Assassination](Assassination%20of%20Biel%20Sheppard.md) | > ###### Player stats > | | | > | ---- | ---- | > | **Height** | 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) | > | **Weight** | 180 lbs (82 kg) | > | **Jersey** | Sheppard #48 | > | **Nicknames** | Sheppy | > | **Position** | Goaltender | > | **Caught** | Right | > | **Played for** | [[Montreal Bulldogs]] <br>[[Montreal Wanderers]] | > | **National team** | Canada | > | **NHA Draft** | Undrafted | > | **Playing career** | 1990–1993, 1994-2004 | > ###### Personal > | | | > | ---- | ---- | > | **Background** | Sephardi Jewish Mexican | > | **Languages** | Spanish, French, English | > | **Orientation** | Lesbian | > | **Gender** | Trans woman | > | **Pronouns** | She/her | **Gabriela Francesca Rivera Sheppard**, known professionally as **Biel Sheppard** and previously as **Gabe Sheppard**, was a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who played 13 seasons for the [[Montreal Wanderers]] in the [[National Hockey Association]] (NHA). She also spent played occassionally with the [[Montreal Bulldogs]], the Wanderers’ [[NHDL]] affiliate. Sheppard was the first openly transgender player in the NHA, coming out publicly in 2000 during a joint press conference with her partner, fellow player [[Charlie Belrose]], who was openly bisexual. On March 3, 2004, [[Assassination of Biel Sheppard|Sheppard was shot at and attacked with a firebomb]] by unknown assailants while leaving [[Le Forum Montréal]]. She died from complications from her gunshot wounds and burns on March 7, 2004. She is the mother of current NHA player [[Angel Sheppard]]. She missed the 1993–1994 season due to his birth. --- > [!NOTE]- Private notes Took maternity/parental leave in ‘93-94 when Angel was born to then-wife Marie Holguin. > Angel looks very much like Biel. It’s widely believed that Biel gave birth to him with the help of a sperm donor, and Angel has never disputed this, even though Biel was came out as a transgender woman during her career. People didn’t really understand that a “sex change” isn’t magical. > Biel and Marie separated soon after Angel’s birth, in 1994, and was amicable for the most part, with Biel still seeing Angel frequently. Charlie comes out publicly as bisexual in 1995, and Biel gifts her a ring to commemorate it—Charlie loves it so much that she buys her a matching one. It’s somewhat of an engagement ring. They come out as a couple in 2000 and marry later that year—bypassing same-sex marriage restrictions due to Biel being trans. Threats increase and the Wanderers advise the two to draft wills. > Biel entrusts most of her property to Angel, though to be held by Charlie or Jakey until Angel reaches a certain age. She specifically gives her ring to Jakey, telling him to hand it down to Angel when he’s “ready”. She doesn’t really elaborate. > (She knows Jakey is/will be a father/brother figure to Angel. All she really wanted was for him to pass down a family heirloom, to solidify Jakey as part of the family. Jakey, of course, feels unprepared for this, and hopes Hans knows what she had meant.) > Charlie and Biel are attacked—it seemed that Charlie was the intended target, but Biel tried to protect her. In reality, the assailant intended to kill both of them. Marie blames Charlie for Biel’s death and becomes withdrawn. Angel does not call Marie his mom anymore, spending as much time as he can away from Marie and closer to Biel and Charlie via hockey.