Initiation category introduces youngsters to Little NHL action

By Sam Laskaris

STOUFFVILLE – The Little Native Hockey League tournament continues to feature some high calibre action each year.

Some of the more elite players in the annual tournament do go on to bigger things in junior, collegiate, and even pro levels. But one of the most popular divisions in the tourney, often simply called the Little NHL, remains the Under-7 or Initiation category.

A total of 43 squads are competing in this division at this week’s tournament, which is primarily being staged in Markham. Rinks in nearby communities are also being used to accommodate some of the matches being staged.

Scores are not kept during Under-7 matches. Teams in the division play 30-minute games of running time.

Coaches for both squads are on the ice to assist players, many of which are trying to pick up some of the nuances of the sport.

All clubs in this grouping play five games each. The ice is divided into half allowing two games to be played at once.

No scores are kept and all participants are considered champions and receive the same medal once all their games conclude.

“It means a lot for the kids to play in this tournament,” said Jeremy Irons, a member of the Curve Lake Screaming Eagles’ bench staff. “For a lot of them, it’s their first year (of playing).”

The Screaming Eagles were at the Stouffville Clippers Sports Complex on Tuesday to square-off against a pair of opponents.

For starters, they competed against a team from Garden River First Nation and then they faced-off versus a club from Dokis First Nation.

The Screaming Eagles were one of two teams in this grouping representing their First Nation. Also taking part are the Curve Lake Fighting Nish.

“This is all about introducing them to the game of hockey pretty much,” Irons said. “That’s all it is and to just have fun out there.”

Though no official tallies are maintained of how many goals are scored, Irons said some players do keep track of how many times they put the puck in the net.

“Some of them do,” he laughed.

The Screaming Eagles’ roster includes Irons’ son Cruz, who is competing in his third Little NHL.

Irons said he also played in the tournament during his minor hockey days.

“A lot of parents played in this when they were younger too,” Irons said, adding that some of the Screaming Eagles’ parents are also Little NHL alumni.

And no doubt they still get a kick out of the event now that they are the ones chauffeuring their kids around to tournament games.

“A lot of us just love coming here,” Irons said. “It’s definitely a big highlight.”

Irons is impressed by just how much growth the Little NHL has had. The tournament was first held in 1971 in Little Current, the largest town on Manitoulin Island.

The inaugural tourney featured a total of 17 clubs. As for this year, a record number of 276 clubs are participating in the tournament, which began on Sunday, March 9 and continues until Thursday, March 13.

“That’s pretty wild,” Irons said.