June 2014
Indigenous Times
17
SPORTS
Red Pheasant 4-peats at FSIN Hockey Tournament Saskatoon, SK - Saskatoon hosted the FSIN Hockey Championships on April 25-27. Games were held at the Gemini Arenas. This year’s tourney featured 78 teams, which was the most ever. Teams are comprised of players all playing for their home First Nation. There were five divisions: Men’s Contact, Men’s Rec, Master, Legend (35+), and Ladies. In the Men’s Contact Division Red Pheasant took home their fourth title in as many years. Finishing second was Canoe Lake, while Onion Lake finished third. In the Men’s Rec Division the Mistawasis Warriors fought off Birch Narrows for the victory. Both teams will now move up to play in the Contact Division to help encourage more team participation and improve the balance of play in all Divisions. The Muskeg Blades finished third. Stanley Mission (PAGC) was the Master Division Champs, the Cote Selects were the tops in the Ladies Division and The Canoe Lake Old Guys finished on top in the Legends Division.
Red Pheasant Rebels, champs four years in a row. - submitted photo
Tournament coordinator Mark Arcand says this year’s tournament was different because “We promoted it as a family event, with no alcohol, no violence, and no drugs allowed in the facility where
games are played. We wanted people to come enjoy good hockey and First Nations people and culture.” The yearly event will be hosted by FSIN next year, as it is alternated between a host First Na-
Whitecap Warriors Continue Their Dominance The Whitecap Warriors have enjoyed major success since joining the ASHL (Adult Safe Hockey League) in Saskatoon, three years ago. The team started out in the B League three years ago. They would win that League Title and moved on to win the National B Title in 2013. They have now won the A League 2 years straight. This is quite the accomplishment considering they go up against former players who played in the NHL, AHL, ECHL, and players from other highly touted leagues. They recently won Regionals and will now go on to compete in the National A Championships, which will be held in Regina in 2015. Cory Alexson has been a part of the Warriors Team since 1996, when he was jus 18. He acknowledges that some of the original and past players like Whitecap Chief Darcy Bear and Councillor Frank Royal have since hung them up, but the current team feels a connection with them and gives credit
Whitecap Warriors Hockey Team - submitted photo
to the past players for supporting this new generation of Warriors. Alexson says he is proud that “100% of our current players today have begun their professional working careers or else are in school working towards it. From doctors, lawyers, journeymen, financial managers, business owners, educators, and other professionals, we take pride in making the way for the next group to follow.” The future looks bright for the Warriors as well and Alexson
says “as our team continues to have the success it does, we find there are a lot of players both First Nation and non who now want to join our team. We are recognized in our league as a group of players who come to play hard each game with respect and like to have fun. We have now earned the respect of the league as the top team, that itself feels good as First Nation players.” •
tion and FSIN. The Tournament will take place in Saskatoon next year, with games to be held at the Gemini Arena once again. •
Basketball
Remembering Jboi Through the Sport he Loved The 3rd Annual Jonathon Couillonneur Basketball Tournament was a resounding success. Teams came from all over Saskatchewan to participate in this tournament and honour the memory of Jon, playing the sport he loved. On the Men’s side Team TNT took home the title. While on the Women’s side the CanAm All-stars were the champs. In the 3-point competition Terrell Murdaugh was king. While Raven Couillonneur, Jon’s sister, bested the rest of the field. The Dunk Champion was Isaac White. Raven says what sticks out in her mind from the tournament “is how everyone comes out to support, also having most of his friends participate in this tournament the past three years.” •