Indigenous minor hockey tournament draws hundreds of players and fans to compete, make connections

When the Manitoba Indigenous Cultural Education Centre's annual Indigenous minor hockey tournament rolls into Winnipeg, Pimicikamak becomes a "ghost town," says one resident.

The community, also known as Cross Lake First Nation and about 530 kilometres north of Winnipeg, virtually clears out every year for the tournament, says Corvo Castl, a defenceman with the Cross Lake Islanders.

Castl, 16, says one of his strongest childhood memories was making it to the tournament finals when he was six or seven.

"We ended up losing. I remember crying," he said with a chuckle. "That was probably my favourite memory ... 'cause we went, like, all the way."

Castl played two games this weekend at the 33rd annual tournament, which ran at the Hockey For All Centre in west Winnipeg. While his team lost both games, it didn't matter, he said, because he got time to visit with friends.

Cross Lake First Nation sent 15 teams to the tournament, which hosts players ranging in age from four or five to 18.

During the winter, Castl is constantly at the Cross Lake Sports Complex arena, where he says it's quiet and calming once he's on the ice.

"That's like my second home ... everyone knows me there," said Castl. "They're like my family."

Hockey culture is huge in Cross Lake, said Angela Ross. She had two grandsons and many nieces and nephews playing with Cross Lake Islanders teams at the tournament.

"They say back home right now, it's like a ghost town. I think everybody almost came here with their kids," Ross said with a grin. "We all like watching hockey."

Win or lose, the youth are happy to be in Winnipeg playing and having fun, Ross said.

Hockey is a part of life in her community, she said, and many young people have been inspired by Vancouver Canuck Brady Keeper, who hails from Pimicikamak.  The Manitoba Indigenous Cultural Education Centre tournament had a big celebration for Keeper when he was drafted into the NHL.

As well, Brigette Lacquette, the first First Nation hockey player named to Canada's national women's team, played on the Hockey For All Centre ice in 2018, said Anna Parenteau, operations manager for the Manitoba Indigenous Cultural Education Centre, a not-for-profit organization that works to promote awareness and understanding of Indigenous culture.

The tournament, which started Friday and wraps up on Sunday this year, gives young players many other to look up to as well, she said.