Simon among those included in First Peoples Rookie Cards set
By Sam Laskaris
AAMJIWNAANG FIRST NATION – More than a quarter century after he played his final National Hockey League (NHL) game, Jason Simon now has a token of commemoration recognizing his time in the world’s premier hockey league.
Simon, a member of Aamjiwnaang First Nation, is one of eight players featured in the Upper Deck NHL First Peoples Rookie Cards set.
Details of the set were officially announced on Jan. 13. It features eight Indigenous players who played at least one NHL game but never had an official NHL licensed trading card.
Simon played more than 800 pro contests during his 17-season pro career, primarily for various squads in the American Hockey League, International Hockey League, and East Coast Hockey League.
He also played five NHL contests, four with the New York Islanders during the 1993-94 season and one game with the then Phoenix Coyotes in the 1996-97 campaign.
“It’s really special,” Simon said of his Upper Deck rookie card. “Probably since I was about five, six or seven years old, of course, it was my goal to make it to the NHL. And you always dream of having your own NHL card.”
Simon said there were a handful of hockey cards made of him while he toiled in the minor pro ranks, but since he had limited stints in the NHL, one was never made of him at that level. Until now.
A total of 10,000 sets of the hockey cards have been printed. Upper Deck officials decided it was best to give away the cards for free, primarily to Indigenous youth.
Some of the places cards will be distributed will be at Indigenous youth hockey clinics and tournaments, including the Little NHL, which is scheduled for Mar. 12-16.
This year’s Little NHL tourney, which will be in Mississauga, will be hosted by Nipissing First Nation.
“I think that’s what is the most important part of it for me,” Simon said of the fact Indigenous youth will not have to pay to get the cards.
Simon will gladly autograph any cards he is asked to sign.
“I’m excited to be able to show these to our youth,” he said. “I want to be able to encourage them like I was encouraged when I was younger.”
The idea for the set was spawned a few years ago when Naim Cardinal, a sports card collector from Tallcree First Nation in Alberta, met with an Upper Deck representative.
Cardinal’s hobby had received plenty of media interest as his collection included a large amount of rookie cards of Indigenous players who had suited up for at least one NHL game.
Cardinal discovered, however, that there were several other Indigenous players who spent some time in the league but an official card was never produced for them.
Upper Deck reps agreed to print a special set to recognize such players.
Ted Nolan, a member of Garden River First Nation, and Dan Frawley, a Nipissing First Nation member, are also included in the set. Others include Danny Hodgson, Victor Mercredi, Rocky Trottier, and two players that have passed away, William LeCaine and Johnny Harms.
“I’m honoured to work with Upper Deck to help shine a spotlight on Indigenous hockey legends
and be a part of bringing these cards to life,” Cardinal said. “These former players have earned their names and images on official trading cards, and it’s great to see both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people honour them as athletes in a real way.”