Cree Hockey News & Notes
NAHC Tryouts
With the 2012 National Aboriginal Hockey Championships (NAHC) fast approaching, tryouts have now been scheduled for the teams that will go to Saskatoon representing Eastern Door and North (EDN). Team organizers are seeking male players born in 1994 or 1995, and female players born in 1992 or 1993 to participate in the camp, which takes place at the Kahnawake Sports Complex, just outside Montreal, on the weekend of March 24-25. The cost to attend the tryout camp is $50, and attendees need to arrange their own travel to and from Kahnawake.
According to Kenny Kane, assistant coach of the men’s team, the competition will be tough. At the 2011 NAHC, the EDN men’s team reached the tourney final before being defeated by Saskatchewan.
The EDN camp schedule is below. All attendees are expected to check in at the Kahnawake Recreation complex well before the start of the first tryout session. To register for the EDN tryout camp, contact Kenny Kane at 450-638-3316, or Jesse Spencer at 1-866-923-3560.
EDN Tryout Camp Schedule
March 24, 2012
11:00 am – 12:30 pm – Men’s tryouts
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm – Women’s tryouts
3:00 pm – 5:00 pm – Men’s tryouts
March 25, 2012
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm – Men’s tryouts
3:00 pm – 4:00 pm – Women’s tryouts
4:00 pm – 5:00 pm – Men’s tryouts
OCN Blizzard advance to MJHL Final Four
The OCN Blizzard of the MJHL have advanced to the Sherwood Division Final for the first time since 2006 after defeating the Swan Valley Stampeders in their best of seven series, four games to two. The Blizzard moves on to face the Winnipeg Saints for the right to play in the MJHL Final. Games 1 and 2 of the series take place on Blizzard home ice on March 16-17. All MJHL playoff games are streamed live online. Pick up the feed at http://mjhl.neulion.com.
In addition, the OCN Blizzard will also be hosting their 2012 Spring Camp April 13-15 at the Gordon Lathlin Memorial Centre in Opaskwayak Cree Nation/The Pas, Manitoba. The club is actively seeking players who have the skill, work ethic, enthusiasm and desire to succeed at the Junior “A” level. Camp is open to players born between 1994 and 1997. For more info: www.ocnblizzard.com
Tournament Action
The Recreational Hockey and Broomball tournament season wrapped up on March 11 in Chisasibi at the community’s 29th Annual Senior Hockey and Broomball Tournament. The Wemindji Wolves took home the tourney’s Class A Hockey banner by defeating the Waskaganish Renegades in the final by a score of 8-5. Justin Otter led the way for Wemindji with a four-goal performance, and led all scorers in the tourney with 11 goals and eight assists.
In Class B Hockey action, the Big River Impact capped an undefeated run throughout the tournament with a 4-1 victory over the Whapmagoostui Tomahawks in the Class B final. The Tomahawks won on the strength of solid goaltending; giving up only seven goals during their five tournament games.
The Recreational Hockey Division was dominated by local teams, with five of the six teams competing hailing from Chisasibi. The final saw the Chisasibi Relics take on the Chisasibi Pash Moar, with the Relics capping a dominant tournament performance with four third-period goals to notch a 5-2 victory. John Rupert led the way with two goals including the game winner, while teammate Adrian Chiskamish led all scorers with seven goals and three assists throughout the tournament.
In Women’s Broomball, the Wemindji Ice Stars came from behind in the final to defeat the Waskaganish Starlites by a score of 3-1. Wemindji’s Monica Visitor led all scorers in the tourney with three goals and two assists including the tying goal early in the second period of the final, sparking the Ice Stars comeback.