It was more than half-a-century ago that a group of coaches, parents, grandparents and colleagues came together with the idea of creating a tournament aimed specifically at enabling Manitoulin Indigenous hockey players to play hockey.
Little did Earl Abotossaway, former Chief Jim McGregor, James D. Debassige baa, the late Reverend Leonard Self and Norman Debassige baa ever imagine in their wildest dreams that the little tournament they built from scratch would be so successful did that dream play out that the tournament they built from scratch, becoming the legendary Little First Nation Hockey League—affectionately known since as the Little NHL—would not only grow to include each of the other Island First Nation communities, but expanded to include over 230 teams from all across the province.
This tournament, originally aimed at providing Indigenous youth with a forum in which to showcase their hockey skills, has become a success story that has proven to have few bounds.
So successful has Little NHL proven, in fact, that it has not only long outgrown the facilities and infrastructure of its birthplace, but that of any Northern city to be able to host. Now huge urban centres such as Markham are the only places with enough ice sheets and accommodations to host the event.
The success of Little NHL down through the years is a testament to the hard work and determination of each communities’ aunties and other members who stage countless fundraising bingos, raffles, concerts, bake sales, rummage sales and any other kind of fundraising venue known to man. These tireless volunteers know only too well how excited the young players are when it comes to taking part and have done their part, moving heaven and earth to make it a reality for the youth of their community.
One can only imagine the deep disappointment of those players who were unable to participate over the pandemic years when the tournament had to be cancelled—especially those who would have participated for the first (or last) time.
Thankfully, like many deeply missed events, Little NHL is back with a vengeance and judging by the stories in this week’s edition of The Expositor, the scores may have been tallied, but the winners were all round in the truest sense of the word.
To one and all involved in making the Little NHL the success it has become, there are two words that are all too inadequate but cannot be said enough—thank you.
