Dazzling opening ceremonies kick off 2019 Little NHL tournament
By Sam Laskaris
MISSISSAUGA – After the dazzling opening ceremonies on Sunday, the day has come for some puck action in the Little Native Hockey League tournament.
Games in the 48th annual event, better known simply as the Little NHL, kicked off this Monday morning and continue until Thursday.
About 550 matches will be staged at the tournament, which is the largest Indigenous youth hockey event in the province.
Aamjiwnaang First Nation is hosting this year’s tournament, but all games will be held in Mississauga, the city located just west of Toronto.
Contests will be staged at six different rinks, featuring a total of 16 ice pads.
“It’s going to be a fantastic week,” said Marian Jacko, the president of the Little NHL executive committee.
A record 227 teams from across Ontario will participate in the 2019 tourney.
“It’s a good increase from last year,” said Jacko, alluding to the previous high of 209 clubs that participated in 2018. “Everybody is really excited about it.”
Members from the tournament executive, host committee and countless volunteers have put in hundreds and hundreds of hours of preparation for this week’s event.
“It’s all worth it,” Jacko said. “We do it for the kids.”
As for Sunday’s opening ceremonies, they were held at the Paramount Fine Foods Centre (formerly Hershey Centre). Renowned Indigenous speaker Stan Wesley served as the emcee.
The ceremonies also featured DJ Shub, a former member of the band A Tribe Called Red.
Indigenous drummers and dancers participated in the Grand Entry song. They were followed by youth carrying flags from each of the 41 First Nations that are competing at this year’s Little NHL.
A number of dignitaries also spoke at the opening ceremonies.
They included Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Glen Hare and the Honourable Michael Tibollo, Ontario’s Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport.
Others who spoke were Aamjiwnaang First Nation Chief Chris Plain and Scott McLeod, chief of Nipissing First Nation, which will serve as the host community for the 2020 Little NHL. Chief Plain handed off the tournament’s Eagle Staff to Chief McLeod during the opening ceremonies.
Other chiefs in attendance who spoke and offered their welcoming comments included Ava Hill from Six Nations and Stacey Laforme, representing the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation.
There was also a welcoming video message from former professional hockey player Jason Simon, a citizen of Aamjiwnaang First Nation.
Theland Kicknosway, a member of the Walpole Island First Nation, wowed the audience with his energetic hoop dance utilizing a number of brightly lit hoops.
During Sunday’s opening ceremonies, Jacko also announced the names of seven individuals who are the 2019 recipients of Little NHL bursaries.
Winners of $1,000 bursaries are Chad Lafortune (Dokis First Nation), Bailey Thomas (Akwesasne), Stephanie Dagenais (Ginoogaming First Nation), Annalise Hayes (Couchiching First Nation) and Mackenzie Deleary (Chippewas of the Thames First Nation).
Winners of the $500 bursaries are Terrance Wabegijig (Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory) and Solomon Whiteye (Walpole Island First Nation).
In order to be eligible for these bursaries, one must have played in the Little NHL during their youth career. And they must also be enrolled at a college or university for the 2018-19 academic year.