AUNDECK OMNI KANING—The annual Little Native Hockey League (LNHL) tournament, held this year in Markham, is a wonderful time for meeting up with old friends and making new connections, but cancer survivor Lyndon Peltier who is currently undergoing chemotherapy was unable to attend his daughter Lynndra Madahbee-Peltier’s games in the under-13 Girls’ A Division championship—which she ultimately won with her Northern Star teammates.
Thanks to modern technology, however, Mr. Peltier was able to see his daughter’s games unfold over livestream.
“He did Facetime with her before the game for a pep talk,” said mom Kendra Madahbee. “He is so proud of her. He told her ‘great work!’” His daughter’s championship team banner now hangs in his hospital room.
The team that Lynndra plays on included members from a number of First Nations, explained Ms. Madahbee. Many bands do not have enough players in a given age division in order to field a team. In the spirit of hockey solidarity, individual players are welcomed onto other teams so they can take part.
Those watching online were not disappointed. In the semi-final game, Lynndra’s team fired a tying goal to bring the score to 2-2 and sent the game into overtime. A four-by-four period failed to define a winner, leading to a shootout.
“In this game, both shooters went at the same time, adding to the tension,” said Ms. Madahbee. It went down to a fifth shooter. “Lynndra got the winning goal to advance,” she said. “She said ‘I’m going to do it for Dad!’ and she did.”
“I took my time, focused and shot near her (the goalie) blocker,” recalled Lynndra.
The team battled hard in the final game, winning 4-3 over the Curve Lake Nimkiins Kwe on the Crosby Memorial Community Centre’s Rink 1 in Markham.
It was a hard-fought victory that brought a proud grin to Mr. Peltier’s face.
Sitting in the player’s bench with the team was none other than hockey legend Reggie Leach, who was providing his own bit of support to the girls.
Among Lynndra’s teammates were two other girls from AOK: Inglis Dantouze and Rebecca Dantouze. The team she played on was only created in about October, noted Ms. Madahbee. “They only had nine starters, eight and a goalie—it was really a short-bench team.”
