First Nations rookie playing on top line with London-based Junior B hockey squad
By Sam Laskaris
LONDON – Many rookies in the junior hockey ranks end up paying their dues before they start making some valuable contributions to their teams, but Raiden Doxtator, a member of Chippewas of the Thames First Nation, is certainly an exception to this line of thinking.
The 17-year-old, who has primarily been playing left wing, has had an immediate impact with the London Nationals, a Junior B squad that competes in the Greater Ontario Hockey League (GOHL).
In fact, Doxtator has earned himself a spot on the Nationals’ top line. And he’s been producing, having collected 22 points, including 15 goals, in his first 29 games with the London squad.
Doxtator, who is 5-foot-11 and 160 pounds, is thriving in the circuit, which includes some players that have already turned 21.
“He’s a good kid,” said Nationals’ general manager Keli Corpse, who is also serving as the team’s interim head coach. “It seems like he loves hockey. He’s one of the better skaters in our league. And he works his butt off at all times. He seems to get in the corner even for a guy that’s not huge. He doesn’t have any fear and he’s got a good skill level, too.”
Doxtator is perhaps his own worst critic.
“I feel I should be doing more though,” he said, when asked whether he’s surprised with how many points he’s earned thus far.
At times, Doxtator has been asked to play the pivotal centre position for the Nationals.
“We’ve had a couple stints when we got short at centre,” Corpse said. “We put him at centre because he’s pretty reliable. He did well there, too. So, moving forward, I’m really not sure if he’s going to be a centerman or a winger. But either way, he’s pretty comfortable.”
Doxtator had spent the 2024-25 season with the Windsor-based BioSteel Hockey Academy Under-16 AAA squad. He finished second in team scoring, racking up 89 points (37 goals and 52 assists) in 61 games.
Moving up to the junior ranks has resulted in some adjustments.
“It’s more positional,” Doxtator said of the action in the GOHL. “You’ve got to be way more aware of your surroundings and finding guys. You can’t get lost in your own zone and whatnot. That’s what I really emphasize, like trying to stay with your man, don’t get lost, just don’t do something where it’s going put your team in a bad situation.”
Corpse is not surprised that Doxtator is putting up his share of points as a rookie.
“He’s got all the tools,” he said. “He’s fast. He can handle the puck and he’s got great vision. I think he’s been taught very well growing up. He’s gotten to this level and it’s just the next step for him.”
Doxtator was also selected by the Peterborough Petes in the 2024 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selections draft. He was the Petes’ seventh-round selection.
Doxtator played two games with the Peterborough squad last season. He attended the Petes’ training camp at the start of this season but did not crack the club’s roster.
Corpse is a former pro who also spent five seasons during his junior career with the OHL’s Kingston Frontenacs. He believes Doxtator is capable of playing in the OHL.
“I hope he gets the opportunity,” he said. “I think he’s got something that he can definitely contribute to the OHL. It’s about opportunity. There are tons of kids that don’t get the opportunity to get their foot in the door. I think if Raiden gets his foot in the door, I think they’re going to be very happy with him.”
Corpse added the Nationals are providing Doxtator a chance to prove himself at the junior level. So, that’s why he’s not surprised that the First Nations teen has responded to the challenge.
“I think with young kids, you never know,” Corpse said of whether they can have impacts with junior squads. “It’s tough to tell. I mean it all depends a lot on confidence and opportunity. I think the coaching staff is giving him lots of opportunity to succeed. He’s taking that rope and he’s kind of run with it. It’s hard to take a guy out of the lineup if he’s producing. He’s taken his opportunity and he’s done the best with it.”