RHA Nationals ’ Nakodan Greyeyes back for his third NAHC tournament was better than winning gold .”
The men ’ s team needed a little championship game heroism in a thriller against Team Ontario . Our guys scored the winning goal at 13:25 of overtime as Justin Nachbaur , a Cross Lake Band member and now a star with the WHL ’ s Prince Albert Raiders , notched the winner . Allan Kohli , another Cross Lake band member stopped 31 shots to seal the 6-5 OT win .
It was the third time Manitoba ’ s women won gold in the championships ( 2009 , 2010 ) and it was the second time for the men ’ s team ( 2002 ). Of course , it was the first time in the 17-year history of the event that both Manitoba teams were crowned champions in the same year .
The NAHC provides a forum for elite Aboriginal hockey players throughout Canada . Each region is represented by two teams , one male and one female , which are both comprised of Bantam and Midget aged athletes from across their region . The event aids in fostering cultural unity and pride and celebrates the athletic
abilities of Aboriginal athletes from across the country .
And that ’ s a big reason why a player like Albert loves this event so much . In fact , she loves the NAHC so much that this year , at age 17 , she will become only the third Manitoba player to take part in five NAHC tournaments .
Assistant coach Tina Keeper will take part in her eighth championship – just two as a player and now six as a coach ( 2005 , 2007 , 2013- 2018 ). Darion Bruyere from Sagkeeng , who went on to play at Minnesota State-Mankato , played in six championships as a player from 2006-2011 . Lynette Kryminski played in five championships as a player and one as a coach ( 2010-14 as a player and 2015 as a coach ). Julie Desrochers competed in five Championships as a player ( 2010-2014 ). And now Julie Albert , from Norway House via the Boston Shamrocks , will play in her fifth ( 2014-18 ), all as a player .
Team Manitoba ’ s Adam Swan with the Winnipeg
Blues of the MJHL
“ That ’ s very few ,” said a surprised Mel Whitesell , the executive director of the MASRC , whose office does a wonderful job organizing the travel and preparing the teams for the competition . “ Especially when you consider all the years we ’ ve been competing and all the players we ’ ve seen .”
For Albert , who will likely play U SPORTS hockey somewhere in Canada next fall and , one day , would like to become a pharmacist , playing for the JWHL ’ s Boston Shamrocks is a thrill , but playing for Team Manitoba is a special treat and a great way to finish the hockey season .
“ I didn ’ t start playing hockey until I was nine and played my minor hockey in Norway House and then , in Winnipeg when my mom moved to the city to go to school ,” she said . “ I went back home and played with the Norman Wild until I went to Notre Dame in ( Wilcox ) Saskatchewan in Grade 11 and now I ’ m here in Boston for Grade 12 . Hopefully , I ’ ll play Canadian university hockey next year . That ’ s the plan .
“ In the meantime , I really can ’ t wait to play the NAHC again . We finally won a championship . It will be fun to go back and defend .”
This year ’ s teams have some outstanding players on the roster . The women ’ s team have a number of returnees , including Albert and her teammates on the Shamrocks , Keyanna and Keyara Lea , Carrigan Umpherville , Saige McKay , Trechelle Bun and goalie Shayna Moore . As well , goalie Bianca Zak and defenseman Kennesha Miswaggon from Balmoral Hall are also on the team again . The women will once again be favored to win it all .
On the men ’ s team Nakodan Greyeyes , Preston Seymour , Kurtis Luke , Shane Bear and Bryden Sinclair will return while goalie Adam Swan of the MJHL ’ s Winnipeg Blues will make the men a contender to defend their crown .
Teams from across the country will compete at the event from May 6-12 , 2018 , at the Membertou Sport and Wellness Centre . ❍
76 | GAME ON | DECEMBER 2017