The countdown is on – Little NHL tournament is fast approaching!
Jason Simon, Former NHL and LNHL player;
Julius Sinopole, LNHL player and Darrus Sinopole, LNHL player. Photo supplied by: Hydro One.
By Sam Laskaris
SARNIA – The 2019 Little Native Hockey League tournament is just around the corner.
Officials with the Indigenous youth hockey event, better known simply as the Little NHL, held a news conference in Sarnia. along with Hydro One representatives, on Thursday, Jan. 17, launching a 50-day countdown to this year’s event.
Aamjiwnaang First Nation, located next to Sarnia, will host the 2019 tournament which is scheduled for Mar. 11-14.
Though the First Nation from southwestern Ontario will host the event, this marks the seventh consecutive year the Little NHL has been held in Mississauga.
Since the tournament has grown so much and now features more than 200 clubs, organizers need to have a location that can accommodate all of the participants as well as their families and supporters.
Former National Hockey League player Jason Simon, a member of Aamjiwnaang First Nation, is serving as a tournament ambassador this year.
“It’s so wonderful,” he said. “It’s really great for our community to get revved up and excited about hosting this.”
Simon had been selected by the New Jersey Devils in the 1989 NHL Entry Draft. Though he never played any games with the Devils, Simon did suit up for four matches with the New York Islanders and one with the then Phoenix (now Arizona) Coyotes.
Simon also had a rather lengthy pro career. Between 1989 and 2009, he toiled for 23 different franchises in 11 different minor pro circuits in North America.
Simon, who is now 49, still fondly recalls his own days participating in the Little NHL.
“My first year I was six or seven,” he said. “I played all the way up until I was about 12 or 13.”
Simon recalled he was still keen to compete in the tournament after that. But by that point, he was playing for AAA clubs who were often in their own league playoffs, which were running at the same time as the Little NHL.
Simon believes the tournament, which has been held annually since 1971, is a rather big deal for everybody in Aamjiwnaang First Nation.
“There is so much pride to be able to be the host city,” he said. “[Almost] everybody from our First Nation has played in the Little NHL. And everybody in our First Nation has probably travelled to a Little NHL tournament before.”
Simon has been asked to coach one of Aamjiwnaang’s male teams at this year’s tournament. But he is unsure if he will have the time to do that.
“We haven’t really sat down and figured out what all my responsibilities will be,” he said.
Simon is expected to give a motivational speech for tournament participants at some point during the tournament.
He’s also expected to be involved in an autograph session and possibly have a role with some prize giveaways.
Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley also attended Thursday’s news conference to kick off the 50-day countdown to the tournament.
“This is such a good news story for Aamjiwnaang and Canadians as a whole,” said Bradley, who is in his 31st year serving as Sarnia’s mayor.
Aamjiwnaang First Nation also hosted the 2009 Little NHL. That tournament was held in Sarnia.
Bradley and Sarnia staff members had a bigger role at that event since it was staged in their city.
Though work commitments will prevent him from attending the 2019 tournament, Bradley speaks rather highly of the Little NHL.
“It breaks down barriers,” he said. “And it builds relationships. It’s a really big achievement for Aamjiwnaang to be the host.”