Stanley Cup champion Reggie Leach again appearing at Little NHL

By Sam Laskaris

MISSISSAUGA – A familiar face is once again attending this year’s Little Native Hockey League tournament.

Former National Hockey League star Reggie Leach, who lives on Aundeck Omni Kaning First Nation on Manitoulin Island, is making appearances at the 48th annual Indigenous youth tournament, known best as the Little NHL.

The 2019 event, which began Monday and continues until Thursday, has attracted a record 227 clubs from across Ontario.

Leach, a member of the 1975 Stanley Cup champion Philadelphia Flyers, has been a constant presence at the tournament in recent years.

“I’m part of this tournament now,” said Leach, a 68-year-old who was born in Riverton, Manitoba. “I used to be a guest speaker here for some years. And then I’ve been coming back every year since I moved to Ontario 13 years ago.”

Leach is making several appearances at this year’s tournament. On Tuesday, he was part of a meet and greet session that featured five Indigenous men who played in the NHL.

Also taking part were Ted Nolan, Stan Jonathan, Jason Simon, and Leach’s son, Jamie.

Leach was making the rounds yesterday at Iceland Arena, one of the facilities hosting games in this year’s Little NHL.

The meet and greet session that he was a part of featured a Hockey Hall of Fame display, including several of the league’s trophies.

Included in this lot was the Conn Smythe Trophy, annually presented to the most valuable player in the NHL’s playoff season.

Leach won this award in 1976 as a member of the Flyers.

Both Leach and his son, who now lives in Winnipeg, will be back at the Little NHL on Wednesday. They will be at Iceland Arena between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. The Stanley Cup will also be on display at this time.

Various other NHL trophies have been displayed at the Little NHL over the years, but this is believed to be the first time in recent memory – and possibly ever – that the Stanley Cup has made an appearance.

The moment will be even more significant as Leach and his son are the only Indigenous father and son combination to have both won the Stanley Cup.

The younger Leach was a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins when they captured back-to-back league championships in 1991 and ’92.

Jamie Leach is currently the owner and president of Shoot to Score Hockey, which operates youth camps and clinics throughout North America. Reggie Leach is often a guest speaker/instructor at these camps.

The elder Leach, who is also a motivational speaker, estimates he spends about 250 days each year on the road attending various speaking engagements and appearances at hockey schools or events.

But he’s got a special place in his heart for the Little NHL.

“I get to meet so many wonderful people,” he said. “It seems this tournament is getting bigger and better every year. It’s one of the better tournaments across the country.”

Leach played in a total of 1,028 NHL games. He racked up 735 points, including 428 goals. He had a league high 61 goals in 80 matches during the 1975-76 campaign.

In addition to Philadelphia, Leach also played for the Boston Bruins, California Golden Seals and Detroit Red Wings during his NHL days.

His last game in the NHL was back in 1983. But because of frequent appearances at events including the Little NHL, Leach remains a well-known figure.

“I have a new generation of kids who know who Reggie Leach is,” he said.

Leach sees a number of the same faces year after year at the tournament. He said he especially loves seeing players grow up throughout the years.

“Every year I come to this tournament and I hear from people who played in this tournament when they were kids and now they’re 50-years-old,” he added. “There’s a lot of good stories I hear about every year.”

Despite being away from home most days, Leach is thoroughly enjoying himself.

“I love doing it,” he said. “I get to talk to and motivate people.”

Leach realizes he is a role model and he’s hoping his inspirational messages rub off on the people he meets and that they in turn go back to their communities eager to become role models themselves.