Anishinabek hockey coaches among Indigenous coaching grant recipients

By Sam Laskaris

ATIKAMEKSHENG ANISHNAWBEK – For the second straight year, Blake Naponse has received some funding to assist with his hockey coaching career.

Naponse, a member of Atikameksheng Anishnawbek, is one of 51 coaches in the province that were recently named recipients for this year’s Indigenous Hockey Coaching Grant.

The grants are funded by Hydro One and the Coaches Association of Ontario. Recipients are eligible to receive up to $1,500 in funding to assist them with expenses including equipment, travel, and training.

“It means the world to us,” said Naponse, who coached the Atikameksheng Stingers Under-7 squad at this year’s Little Native Hockey League tournament, which was primarily held in Markham this past March. “I never went through any other funding source before.”

This marked the second year that the Indigenous Hockey Coaching Grant was made available.

Naponse, who also coaches in the Sudbury-area Walden Minor Hockey Association, was a 2023 grant recipient as well.

News that the grants would also be made available this year was announced at the March tourney, often simply referred to as the Little NHL.

“I did share the news with a lot of other coaches,” Naponse said, adding he himself did apply again and was somewhat surprised to be chosen as a repeat recipient.

Naponse added that he used his grant money last season to help cover ice time expenses. He also bought some skating aids for those who are just learning to skate.

Another grant recipient, both last year and this year, is Justin McGregor, a member of Whitefish River First Nation.

He coached his First Nation’s Under-11 mixed recreational team to a B Division title at this year’s Little NHL.

McGregor has two daughters, Delilah, 10, and Breha, 6, who play in the Espanola Minor Hockey Association.

“I think it’s a great initiative,” McGregor said of the Indigenous Hockey Coaching Grant. “It definitely supports coaches not only like myself but other volunteers supporting their communities.”

McGregor received $1,250 in funding in 2023, and awarded $1,300 this year.

He’s keen to use some of this money as an honourarium for an Elder that he wants to bring in to talk to members of his eldest daughter’s team.

“I’m hoping to bring a local Elder to talk about Truth and Reconciliation,” McGregor said.

Chico Ralf, who served as the president of the Little NHL executive at this year’s tourney, also spoke highly of the grant program.

“The excitement and anticipation of being on a sports team was on full display at this year’s tournament, and it starts with representation for our First Nations youth,” Ralf said. “Both my kids have played and coached in the Little NHL so I know firsthand that this grant from Hydro One and the CAO will continue to have positive impacts by knocking down any barriers that may have held them back in the past.”