Garden River tyke squad wins new sticks through contest
By Sam Laskaris
MISSISSAUGA – Action in the 48th annual Little Native Hockey League tournament kicked off on Monday morning.
And by early afternoon on the opening day of the event, better known as the Little NHL, T.J. Boisonneau, the coach of the Garden River Little Thunder tyke squad, had already deemed the tournament, which continues until this Thursday, a success.
That’s because the Garden River club was announced at an early afternoon news conference as the winning entry in Hydro One’s Win As One Team contest. As contest winners, all members of the Little Thunder team were presented with new Bauer hockey sticks.
Squads participating in this year’s Little NHL were invited to enter the contest, that was organized by Hydro One, the tournament’s presenting sponsor. To enter, club representatives simply had to send photos of their squad showing off their team spirit and excitement.
More than 50 clubs entered the contest.
Boisonneau knew more than 200 squads would participate in the 2019 Little NHL, which is being staged at various rinks throughout Mississauga.
“Right there your chances are pretty slim,” Boissoneau said.
A record 227 teams are participating in this year’s tournament. That shatters the previous high of 209 clubs, which competed at the 2018 tourney, also held in Mississauga.
Garden River officials submitted a pair of photos to contest organizers. One was a shot of the Little Thunder players after they participated in their final Little NHL game last year.
The second picture featured team members on the ice with former professional players from an Indigenous alumni team, which played an exhibition game at the Rankin Arena on the Batchewana First Nation last month.
Boissoneau heard last week his side had been selected as the contest winners.
“It was unbelievable,” he said. “The kids were really happy. It’s a big deal for us. It’s nice. Because of this, the week is already considered a success.”
Jason Fitzsimmons, Hydro One’s chief corporate affairs and customer care officer, said contest organizers were rather impressed with Garden River’s submitted photos.
“This one really stood out for its vibrancy,” Fitzsimmons said of the Little Thunder entry.
Fitzsimmons added he was impressed with the enthusiasm of the Garden River players in the pictures as well as their colourful jerseys.
This year’s Garden River tyke co-ed squad features 13 players. The tyke grouping is for those aged four to six. But the team also includes one individual who is just three.
Jason Simon, a former professional hockey player, was on hand yesterday to help present the new sticks to the Garden River players.
Simon is a member of Aamjiwnaang First Nation, which is serving as the host community for this year’s Little NHL.
Simon, who played 18 seasons of pro hockey, recalled his minor hockey days and what getting a new stick meant to him.
During his youth days his mother often couldn’t afford to buy him a new stick when he needed one.
“I remember using a broken stick and not be able to take slap shots,” he said. “People would be asking me why I was only taking wrist shots.”
Simon’s play would improve when his mother would receive a cheque and she could afford to buy him a new stick.
“The feeling of getting a new stick was great,” he said. “I’d be fearless out there.”