Little NHL surpasses registration record again
By Sam Laskaris
MISSISSAUGA – It will once again be a record-breaking year at the Little Native Hockey League tournament.
Officials with the Indigenous youth team tournament, more commonly known as the Little NHL, recently announced the 2019 tourney would feature a record 237 clubs from across Ontario.
The 48th annual event is scheduled for Mar. 11-14 at various rinks in Mississauga, a city located just west of Toronto.
Though the tournament is being staged in Mississauga, it will be hosted by Aamjiwnaang First Nation.
The number of participating squads this year greatly surpasses the record 209 clubs that competed at last year’s tournament, also staged in Mississauga.
Although the location of the Little NHL moved around from city to city early on, this marks the seventh straight year it will be staged in Mississauga.
Because of the tournament’s growth, it can only be held in a relatively large city these days as plenty of rinks, hotels and restaurants are among the necessities required to accommodate participants as well as their family members and supporters.
Chico Ralf, the Little NHL’s vice-president, admits he was caught off-guard by the fact the tournament continues to grow. For the most part, the event was held in northern Ontario locations early on.
Ralf thought registration numbers would fall once the tournament started being staged in Mississauga because he felt many northern Ontario clubs would not travel great distances to take part.
“That was always a little bit of a concern of mine,” Ralf said. “But our people have just kept coming to the tournament year after year.”
One of the reasons for this is undoubtedly the support they receive from organizers.
“I’m glad to say in the history of the Little NHL, we have never turned anybody away,” Ralf said.
As proof, he pointed to this year’s registration. A deadline of Jan. 15 was in place, but Ralf said some squads were accepted after the deadline.
“There was a couple of them that came in afterwards,” he said.
Ralf added credit has to be given to the participating players, who are keen to take part each year.
“The tournament belongs to the players,” he said. “They are the sole owners of the Little NHL. Without them we don’t have a tournament.”
Other support is also required to make the tournament successful.
“This all happens when parents, fundraisers, coaches, managers and communities come together,” Ralf said.
Ralf, who has been on the Little NHL executive for 19 years (12 as vice-president), believes the tournament can keep growing.
“The city of Mississauga does have a large number of rinks,” he said. “I think we could have even more. We can still accommodate more than 300 teams.”
The tournament has already greatly surpassed its humble beginnings. Just 17 clubs competed in the inaugural event held in Little Current on Manitoulin Island.
The Little NHL will also be held in Mississauga for at least the next two years.
It has already been announced that Nipissing First Nation will host the 2020 tournament. The Little NHL executive committee will serve as the host for 2021 event, which will mark the 50th anniversary of the tournament.