Team Nation competes with Europe’s best in Swiss hockey tourney

An all-star Bantam team from Eeyou Istchee competed against Europe’s best 13- to 15-year-old players in the fourth Geneva Future Hockey Challenge during the last week of March. Team Nation managed only a tie but gained a world of experience in the elite tournament.

Team Nation, which competed in the U15 ELITE division, was quickly assembled after an invitation was received in early February for a First Nations team enter the competition.
Coached by Jeff Spencer and Fred Perowne, a long-time skipper of the Cree Nation Bears, it took perfect timing and hard work to make Team Nation a reality.

The host team, Genève-Servette, made the overture to see if a team of First Nations players would be interested in participating in the tournament, explained Spencer. “Roger Bastien from SportSelect International told them they should get in touch with me, and after that everything happened pretty fast.”

Spencer enlisted Christian Flamand, whose experience organizing the annual Tournoi des Nations hockey tournament proved to be invaluable.

“We organized a selection camp in La Tuque, because it is pretty close to Mistissini where the Cree Nations Bear play,” explained Spencer. “We invited over 50 players and made the final selections February 28.”

Ten young players from Eeyou Istchee, primarily members of the Cree Nation Bears, made the cut. They included goaltenders Jacob Dioszeghy of Chisasibi and Jake Simard of Oujé-Bougoumou; defencemen Tyrese Neeposh of Mistissini, Donovan Wadden of Chisasibi, Fabian Petagumskum and Marcus Petagumskum of Whapmagoostui; and forwards Derian Blackned Hester of Waskaganish, Linden Spencer of Eastmain, Cameron Bearskin of Chisasibi and Marshall Stewart of Wemindji.

“The boys showed real commitment and enthusiasm for participating in the tournament,” continued Spencer. “And the people at Genève-Servette, without them it would not have been possible. They sponsored our travel costs and helped arrange some side trips for the boys that made the trip even more special.”

Former NHL player Michal Grosek greeted the young players upon arrival in Switzerland. Coached by Ted Nolan while playing with the Buffalo Sabres, Grosek was eager to spend time with Team Nation, joining them in the dressing room to talk hockey and impart a little of his experience, including being a part of the Sabres team that came with an overtime goal of winning the Stanley Cup in 1999.

Team Nation faced off against some of the strongest club teams in Europe, including Jokerit, a Helsinki-based hockey program that has produced some of Finland’s best players; Minsk-based Dinamo Belarus; a team of selects from the Russian Ice Hockey Federation; Suisse Ice Hockey Lausanne, one of Switzerland’s leading hockey development programs; and Genève-Servette, the host team for the tournament and the sponsors who made Team Nation’s participation possible.

It proved to be tough going on the ice for Team Nation as they played to a 1-1 draw against Belarus Dinamo, but failed to pick up a victory in their other tournament games. However, the boys certainly gained respect for their never-quit attitude and loyalty to each other, particularly during their game against the Russian Federation. The Russians, aggressors in multiple on-ice altercations, quickly discovered that First Nations boys would not be pushed around on the ice.

“It was like Canada/Russia in 1987 all over again,” said Spencer, in reference to the fight-filled game between Canada and Russia during the 1987 World Juniors.

The Russians would win the game, but unhappy with officiating throughout the tournament, eventually pulled out of the tourney.

Despite the team’s on-ice challenges, Spencer is extremely happy with the experience his young charges gained from taking part in the tourney and excited about future opportunities to provide young First Nations hockey players with valuable international experience.

“It was an amazing experience for our boys,” said Spencer. “It gave them the chance to see that dreams are possible.”

The Team Nation roster:

G Jacob Dioszeghy – Chisasibi
G Jake Simard – Oujebougoumou
D Tyrese Neeposh – Mistissini
D Donovan Wadden – Chisasibi
D Fabian Petagumskum – Whapmagoostui
D Marcus Petagumskum – Whapmagoostui
F Derian Blackned Hester – Waskaganish
F Linden Spencer – Eastmain
F Cameron Bearskin – Chisasibi
F Marshall Stewart – Wemindji