MARKHAM—The 51st annual Little Native Hockey League (LNHL) tournament will feature a record number of participating teams. This year’s tournament, taking place this week, will bring in 276 teams from all over Ontario, including several teams from Manitoulin Island First Nation communities.
Chico Ralf, Little NHL president said “I look forward to another amazing tournament that brings our First Nation teams, players, elders, parents, family and friends from all four directions in Ontario. Whether you are a player, family member or friend, we are all one LNHL family.”
Mr. Ralf said it is a great honour to keep up the tradition of the tournament, “an event that is the highlight of the year for many of our young people. It brings together so many of our families, united by our children and love of sport.”
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The first LNHL tournament had a total of 17 teams and a modest 200 players take part, in Little Current. In 2024 the tournament welcomed over 4,000 players, on 246 teams from U7 to U18 in 550 games. This year’s tournament will be held in Markham.
“The Chippewa Tri-Council (CTC) is the host community for the tournament. An official signing ceremony was held on August 24. Leadership from the Chippewas of Georgina Island, Beausoleil and Rama First Nations, the Little NHL executive and delegates from the city of Markham attended the ceremony.
“The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is pleased to announce its participation in a new joint initiative in partnership with the Indigenous Police Chiefs of Ontario (IPCO) and the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police (OACP) Equity Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) committee to enhance police support for the LNHL, taking place March 9-13 in Markham,” a release states.
“As part of this initiative, the OPP has joined various municipal and First Nation police services in placing ‘Proud Supporter of the LNHL’ decals on police vehicles to promote and show support for the LNHL tournament and its participants.”
The “LNHL tournament offers a unique opportunity for police services to engage in meaningful community outreach and foster positive relationships with Indigenous youth. Throughout the tournament, OPP members will be attending various participating arenas to cheer on athletes and demonstrate their commitment to building strong, supportive and safe communities.”
“We are excited to be a part of this new initiative to promote and support the (LNHL),” said Superintendent Gary Maracle, OPP, Indigenous Policing Bureau. “The OPP had the honour of attending and participating in LNHL 50th anniversary events in 2024, and we are thrilled to amplify our support for First Nation youth athletes in 2025 through this joint initiative with the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police (OACP) Equity, Diversion and Inclusion committee and the Indigenous Police Chiefs of Ontario. As a former LNHL coach and current parent, I am especially happy to take the lead in increasing our engagement with this fantastic event.”
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“Our partnership with the LNHL tournament offers a wonderful opportunity to support and celebrate the achievements of Indigenous youth in sports,” said deputy chief Julie Craddock, Anishinabek Police Services and co-chair, OACP Equity, Diversion and Inclusion committee. “This collaboration aligns with the commitment to promoting equity, diversity and inclusion as well as advancing reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples. The LNHL is incredibly meaningful to Anishinabek Police Services. Many of our officers played in the tournament during their youth and now either coach or watch their own children play. We hope that this tradition continues and that many of the players we meet this year, become police officers one day too.”
“The tournament is an event like no other, bringing together thousands of participants from First Nations across Ontario to showcase their hockey talents and exemplify our four pillars-education, citizenship, sportsmanship and respect,” said Mr. Ralf. “It is wonderful to see Ontario’s provincial, municipal and First Nations police services promoting and supporting our LNHL athletes and their families.”
Many First Nation communities have hosted the tournament over the 51-year history. They include Aundeck Omni Kaning, Curve Lake, Dokis, Fort William, Garden River, M’Chigeeng, Nipissing, Sagamok, Saugeen, Six Nations, Walpole Island, Wausaksing, Wiikwemkoong, Whitefish Lake and Whitefish River.
The Little Native Hockey League tournament was started by five very special people, Earl Abotossaway, Jim McGregor, James D. Debassige, Reverend Leonard Self and Norman Debassige. Their collective dreams became a reality when they held the first tournament during the Christmas break in 1971.
