MARKHAM—The Little Native Hockey League (LNHL) tournament is eagerly anticipated by players and parents alike each year since its inception on Manitoulin Island in the Little Current arena 53 years ago by three area First Nations. This year was no different and Manitoulin hockey players made their mark on this seminal anniversary edition of the tournament.
Not all of the teams have checked in yet, but a cursory check indicates that many Island teams not only held their own, but excelled.
The Wiikwemkoong Storm U15 Boy’s Recreational Bantam team won all four of their pool A games to come out on top 6-3 but fell in the final to Curve Lake Screaming Eagles 6-5. The Wiikwemkoong White Hawks U15 took their final with a score of 2-0 over the Wasauksing Islanders.
The Six Nations Blackhawks U13 A Division championship team included three AOK players. See story below about how one player’s parent watched the games livestreamed from his hospital bed, cheering her on while undergoing chemotherapy.
The M’chigeeng Thunderbirds U15 boys took their championship with a 5-2 win over Atikmeksheng Stingers 5-2.
“M’Chigeeng U18 Competitive Division Champions at the 50th Anniversary Little Native Hockey League Tournament that was held in Markham,” announced Snooze Corbiere. “There were over a 1000-plus fans in attendance, who stayed to watch the best of the best from all over Ontario at the Angus Glen Arena. The M’Chigeeng U18 Competitive team lost their first game against Akwesasne but they regrouped and learned from their mistakes and beat them in the A Championship Finals with a score of 6-3, we also had a deciding game to move us forward, and won that game with only five players and a goalie as the others had AAA playoff games down in Southern Ontario, it was a full out week of hockey for sure. These fine young gentlemen represented M’Chigeeng proudly as we’re all from Turtle Island and one big family! Congratulations to the other Champions as well, was a great time with great friends and families from all across Ontario, until next year Baamaapii Little NHL!”
