With a brotherhood stemming from their pre-novice days, the core group of the championship winning Mistissini MD U18 team had always wanted to come back together for one last hurrah in youth hockey.
The undefeated team created quite a buzz at the third annual Every Child Matters Hockey and Broomball Tournament in Gatineau July 7, skating away as champs after a 6-2 victory over the Moose Cree Scrappers.
“To play this tournament together shows how much they’re still connected,” said Melissa Rickard, the team’s manager along with David Iserhoff. “They’re all on their own paths to succeed in higher levels. They brought along their friends they’ve met along the way.”
While most players have moved away to elite leagues since the peewee level, the idea to form this team came when reuniting back in Mistissini for a tournament over the Christmas holidays. Their enduring camaraderie was evident both in their chemistry on the ice and laughter shared in the dressing room.
“Their bond, friendship and identity were a big thing for them,” said assistant coach Anthony MacLeod, Rickard’s husband. “My role on the bench was to remind them of where they started, the fun they used to have when we’d load up the van when they were just little guys.”
MacLeod said his fellow assistant coach Evadney Matoush was like a mom to the boys, reminding them of their fun road trips over the years. Coach Fred Perron was happy to be back on the bench, having seen many of the team grow up when he coached the Cree Nation Bears.
Several players won individual honours. Lucas Perreault from Waswanipi was named MVP of the tournament, Theron Morningstar from Mississauga First Nation was the top goaltender and the best defenceman award went to Ethan Makokis from Saddle Lake First Nation.
“Friends they had played with from other First Nations saw the bond of the boys from Mistissini,” said MacLeod. “They said they’d never seen a brotherhood that strong. They saw the culture and language and were like wow.”
Inspired by this cultural connection, some of these other players intend to visit Mistissini during the next few months. The community demonstrated its support before the finals with dressing room visits from Chief Michael Petawabano and local NHL prospect Israel Mianscum.
As they advance from kids playing on Mistissini’s streets to the highest levels of junior hockey and academics, this tournament will be an experience these talented young athletes won’t forget.
“It was an awesome experience for them to come together and win this tournament,” said MacLeod. “The team attracted a crowd because we had a lot of talent – the group chat is still very active.”
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Rising stars
Young players shine at hockey gathering in Gatineau
by Joshua Janke
The U13 Chisasibi Blizzards captured the Every Child Matters hockey championship in Gatineau July 7 in a thrilling display of skill and teamwork. Led by Shayden House, who netted 10 goals and added two assists, and Drake Moses, who tallied six goals, the Blizzards proved unstoppable. Both players came through in the clutch during the championship game, each scoring twice to secure a 5-3 victory against the Eskasoni Eagles.
The Blizzards showcased a formidable lineup, with Casey Sealhunter (five goals, five assists), Nelson Blackned Jr. (five goals, five assists), and Sam John-Andrews (two goals, seven assists) all averaging over a point per game. Across seven games, the Blizzards scored an impressive 42 goals while conceding only nine, finishing the tournament with a 6-1 record and the U13 championship title.
For the Eagles, Sam Graves and Chad Edwards were standout performers. Graves (eight goals and five assists) was a force on the ice, accumulating 14 penalty minutes and excelling in special teams play alongside Edwards. Edwards (seven goals and two assists) stunned the crowd with two shorthanded goals, showcasing his elite powerplay and penalty-kill skills throughout the event.
In the championship final, the Blizzards’ dynamic duo of House and Moses was too potent for the Eagles. Four goals were scored in the first 10 minutes, with Moses opening the scoring at 1:03, followed by Graves equalizing for the Eagles at 2:48. Moses added another goal on a Chisasibi power play at 5:01, but Edwards responded with his second shorthanded goal of the tournament, tying the game at two. House then scored twice in the first eight minutes of the second period, followed by Kayden Stephan-Hester’s goal which sealed the deal for the Blizzards with the game ending 5-3.
One of the event’s stand-out U13 players was Chad Edwards of the Eskasoni Eagles from Nova Scotia. His quality playing throughout the tournament was a testament to his hard work and dedication.
Reflecting on the tournament, Edwards told the Nation, “It was just a great experience overall. The two-day bus ride was pretty cool, especially going to Ottawa to play hockey. I was excited and focused on my preparation because I didn’t know what to expect. I tried to keep the mindset that the other teams would be very difficult to play against and that it would be a battle. It prepared me to play my hardest out there.”
Edwards’ performance, especially his shorthanded goals, was a highlight. “I was happy about them. They were both very close, tight moments. It’s a bit hard to remember, that’s how fast it went. I guess that’s when all my preparation just came into play.”
When asked about his go-to move, Edwards responded, “I don’t think I have a signature move yet. But in close moments, it’s a battle of inches. I just look for the net and focus on releasing a shot really quick because someone is always closer than you think. I shoot left side a lot, just above the pad and under the goalie’s glove. If I have time for an extra move, I might try something special, but my go-to move is definitely a quick-release shot, always trying to get it on net.”
Reflecting on the final game, Edwards said, “It went well. We didn’t come out on top. It was pretty close, but we lost it in the first 10 minutes of the second period. The first period was back and forth, we never felt out of it, and we will learn from it.”
Despite the loss, Edwards remains positive, “Still, a silver medal, that’s awesome. I heard last year the team didn’t make it as far, just to the semis, so I felt that as a team, we have made an improvement. As a first year on the team, I’m just happy to be a part of it.”
Asked if he’ll be back next year, Edwards said, “I sure hope so. I talked to Austin, who is the head coach, and he said he’s very happy with my playing. I shook his hand, and he said I think I’ll be playing for him again in the future.”
by Patrick Quinn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter