> [!quote|no-t c-p-sm bg-c-red txt-c] > “I always shoot top pussy!” > [!infobox|wikipedia] > # Khai Harper > ![[khai.png]] > > | | | > | ---- | ---- | > | **Born** | 9 Sept 1983 (age 34) <br>Berkeley, California | > ###### Player stats > | | | > | ---- | ---- | > | **Height** | 6 ft 6 in (201 cm) | > | **Weight** | 218 lbs (99 kg) | > | **Jersey** | Harper #39 (C) | > | **Nicknames** | Cap, Harps | > | **Position** | Center | > | **Shoots** | Right | > | **NHA team** | *[[San Francisco Blades]]* | > | **Former teams** | [[Death Valley Heat]] | > | **National team** | United States | > | **NHA Draft** | 9th overall, 2001 <br>[[San Francisco Blades]] | > | **Playing career** | 2001–present | > ###### Personal > | | | > | ---- | ---- | > | **Background** | Black American | > | **Languages** | English, Arabic, Swedish | > | **Orientation** | Bisexual | > | **Gender** | Trans woman | > | **Pronouns** | She/her | **Khaira Jaylen Årud-Harper** (born September 9, 1985) is an American professional ice hockey left winger playing for the [[San Francisco Blades]] in the [[National Hockey Association]]. She is serving as captain for the Blades. # Public history Harper was born in Berkeley and grew up in nearby Oakland. As the daughter of two professors, she excelled in school and much of her extracurriculars were dedicated to sports. Harper graduated early from [[Eastshore High School]] in 2000 in order to focus on hockey. She played for Seattle Hockey Club of the Pacific Hockey League (PHL) and drew the attention of many NHA scouts with her smart plays and reads as well as her physical strength. She was drafted in the first round, 9th overall, in the 2001 NHA Entry Draft by the Blades, despite being in the top 5 draft prospects for North America. During the [[2014 NHA partial lockout]], Harper chose to stay with the Blades organization and played for its [[NHDL]] (NHDL) associate, the [[Death Valley Heat]]. She has stated that the 2014-15 NHDL season with the Heat was how she became closer to current Blades head coach [[Hans Roxas|Hans Roxas]]. Harper married Blades teammate Matti Årud in the summer of 2016 in Visby, Sweden. Before the start of the season, Harper and Årud negotiated a new [[couples' contract]] with the Blades, in which the two players are considered as one unit. At the start of the 2017-18 season, Harper was named team captain by recommendation of former captain [[Benny Jax]]. Her alternate/assistant captains are [[Matti Årud|Matti Årud]] and [[Kendall Jax|Kendall Jax]]. Later that same year, she also confirmed the longstanding rumor that she and Årud are in a romantic relationship. --- > [!NOTE]- Private notes > Was originally named Jamie Triplett. On/off with Kit before settling w Matti. ## Design Notes - Khai wears her hair in Blades red braids that lighten towards the ends. - Her eyes are light brown and often look golden. - She has double lobe piercings on both ears, a rook piercing on her left side, and a conch on her right. - Her eyelashes are naturally very long. - Khai has a fineline golden poppy tattoo on her sternum. Her small sun tattoo on her right hand matches with [[Matti Årud|Matti]]'s moon. ## Trivia - Khai played on the same high school hockey team as Hans Roxas, when she was a freshman and they were a senior. - She does her own hair, not trusting anyone else after a bleaching disaster. - Was a top prospect for both volleyball and hockey. - Her parents met in Berkeley, where she was born. - Draws and paints in her down time, sometimes on Matti while he's sleeping. ## Likes - Competition - Warm weather - Iced coffee - Astrology - Playing guitar ## Dislikes - Obvious dishonesty - Not knowing things - Crowded spaces - Inactivity - Disorder ## Relationships > [!kith|romantic] **[[Matti Årud|Matti Årud]]** _Husband_ > “Of course I love Matti a lot, he's my best friend and my soulmate. He's also the biggest dork I know, both physically and spiritually.” > [!kith|friend] **[[Hans Roxas|Hans Roxas]]** _Friend_ > “Roxie's coaching style is something I really admire. It's based off of trust, which is much healthier than fear.” > [!kith|family] **[[Skyler Iwata|Skyler Iwata]]** _Rookie_ > “I see Skyler as my little sister and I'm so proud of her development as a woman and as a player. She's on track to become a legend, I'm sure.”