Little NHL hosts earning praise

By Sam Laskaris

MISSISSAUGA – They pulled it off. Representatives from Aamjiwnaang First Nation are earning kudos for the job they have done as hosts of this year’s Little Native Hockey League tournament, which wraps up today.

The event, more commonly known as the Little NHL, has been held in Mississauga every year since 2013. Various First Nations have taken turns hosting the tourney, which is now in its 48th year.

The Little NHL, which featured 17 clubs in its first year, has become the largest Indigenous hockey tournament in Ontario.

A large city such as Mississauga is now required to stage the tournament because of the number of rinks required for all of the games. Six facilities, featuring 16 ice pads, were required for the more than 550 matches in this year’s event.

The tournament also needs to be in a city where there are sufficient hotels nearby to accommodate all of the participating players as well as their families and supporters.

Aamjiwnaang is about a two-and-a-half hour drive from Mississauga.

Jamie Maness, the coordinator of the Aamjiwnaang committee, said a number of individuals helped make the 2019 Little NHL a success.

“We had a really good planning committee,” he said.

A half dozen Aamjiwnaang individuals chaired various committees, including Aamjiwnaang Chief Chris Plain who took on a number of responsibilities.

The hosts also had a pair of honorary chairs, former professional hockey player Jason Simon and Kyle Jackson, a current pro lacrosse player. Both Simon and Jackson are citizens of Aamjiwnaang First Nation.

The hosts also have about 50 volunteers from their First Nation assisting in various capacities at this year’s tournament.

“It was busy,” Maness said. “There was a lot of work to do.”

Aamjiwnaang First Nation also hosted the Little NHL back in 2009. That tournament was held in Sarnia, which is adjacent to the First Nation.

Maness said Aamjiwnaang would consider submitting a bid to host the tournament again.

“Maybe in about five years,” he said.

Marian Jacko, the president of the Little NHL executive committee, had plenty of praise for the hosts.

“I think they did a fantastic job,” she said. “We’ve had the largest tournament so far with 227 teams competing.”

The previous high of 209 participating clubs had been set at last year’s event.

It was announced a year ago that Aamjiwnaang First Nation would host the 2019 Little NHL. Maness said the hosts started ramping out preparations in earnest by about August.

“The amount of co-ordination going into this is pretty phenomenal,” Jacko said.

A number of meetings between the hosts and members of the Little NHL executive were held in the months leading up to this week’s tournament.

“Jamie has been a really awesome co-ordinator,” Jacko said. “And Chief Plain has been more hands on than what you’d expect from a chief.”

Even when they weren’t meeting face-to-face, Jacko and Maness were keeping each other informed of happenings.

“Jamie and I have been on the phone continuously,” she said. “There has been some serious collaboration.”

Aamjiwnaang First Nation also sent seven clubs to this year’s tournament. The hosts were represented by a Novice, Atom, and Peewee team, in addition to two Tyke and two Midget squads.