University of New Brunswick hockey camp aims to help Indigenous girls get on the ice

Lillian George helped 10-year-old Dahlia Mitchell take her first, tentative steps on to the ice at the Aitken University Centre.

It was Dahlia's first time playing hockey, and after a few tips from George on how to space her feet apart to keep her balance on skates, she was hooked.

"It was pretty cool," Dahlia said after getting off the ice. "I've never learned how to skate. When I figured it out, it was really easy."

Dahlia's mother didn't stop smiling when she talked about seeing her daughter on the ice for the first time. 

"It just brought so much joy, seeing her out there in all the equipment," Elizabeth Mitchell said. "I always wanted to go on the ice like that and play hockey, but I never got to."

WATCH | UNB hockey player discusses running hockey camp for Indigenous girls:

Dahlia is one of more than a dozen girls learning the game from members of the University of New Brunswick women's hockey team this fall at a camp created specifically for Indigenous girls. It runs for five weeks and is completely free for any Indigenous girl who wants to try hockey, including gear for those who need it.

The camp is led by George, a sixth-year student at UNB and an assistant captain with the Reds, who have been Atlantic University Sport (AUS) champions the past two seasons. She plans the ice times and helps recruit girls from nearby communities, in addition to offering them encouragement on the ice.

"I think sometimes they're like, 'Oh, I can't do this,'" George said. "But just giving them that, 'You can do this, just you've got to try your best and it doesn't matter what level you are now. You can get better every ice time.'"

It's funded by the Canadian Tire Jumpstart program and the Brendon Oreto Foundation, which helps cover the cost of fees and equipment for children who want to play hockey.

And for those who want to keep playing after the five weeks end, there's a pathway to do that. The camp has partnered with the Central Female Hockey Association to make sure they can continue their hockey careers.

The camp was created three years ago by former Reds player Jana Headrick.

"She really just wanted to reach out to the surrounding communities and give all the Indigenous girls a chance to get out and experience hockey," George said.

After Headrick graduated two years ago, George took over the program, with help from her UNB teammates and coaches. Her favourite part is seeing some girls return year after year, and watching them improve from those first uneasy steps to being able to take confident strides.