WIIKWEMKOONG—A total of nine Wiikwemkoong bantam and midget-aged hockey players, as well as coaches and other staff, have been named to the Team Ontario squad that will be competing at the National Aboriginal Hockey Championships (NAHC) next month.
The Team Ontario female division team will include two Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory players, Alex Ferguson and Ava Assinewai, along with alternate Reese Shigwadja. Mackenzie Shigwadja and Melissa Shigwadja will be the team trainer and team doctor, respectively.
Among the players on the Team Ontario male roster are Kyle Ferguson and Carson Shawana. Head coach of the team will be Brandon Biggers, and Dustin Peltier is the manager.
A release explains, “the National Aboriginal Hockey Championships (NAHC), founded by the Aboriginal Sport Circle (ASC) and sanctioned by Hockey Canada, provides a forum for elite bantam and midget-aged Aboriginal hockey players from across Canada showcasing the athletic abilities of athletes from across the country, while also fostering cultural unity and pride. An event held annually since 2001, the NAHC also serves as a focal point for grassroots and regional Aboriginal hockey development.”
“On October 27 ASC announced that Membertou, Nova Scotia will be the host for the 2022 NAHC. The event will take place from May 7-14, at the Membertou Sport and Wellness Centre with over 500 participants expected to be in attendance. Membertou has a long history of hosting national level events, including the 2018 NAHC.”
