I ’ ve known about the tournament from a young age and I ’ ve wanted to be on the team for a while now . Being aboriginal I ’ ve always wanted to represent Manitoba
“ I ’ ve known about the tournament from a young age and I ’ ve wanted to be on the team for a while now ,” he said . “ Being aboriginal I ’ ve always wanted to represent Manitoba .” The NAHC features the top bantam and midget age male and female indigenous hockey players from across the country including B . C ., Alberta , Saskatchewan , Manitoba , Ontario , Quebec and the North . More than 450 players , coaches and team staff are expected to take part in this year ’ s tournament . Founded by the Aboriginal Sport Circle in 2001 , the tourney was designed to raise awareness of aboriginal hockey in Canada and give youth an opportunity to showcase their talent on a national stage . While admitting he feels a few butterflies thinking about the tourney , Greyeyes , 16 , can ’ t wait for the games to begin . “ It ’ s going to be pretty exciting . It ’ s a pretty big deal for me ,” he said . “ I know some of the guys on our team but it ’ s going to be a chance to meet new people and build some new friendships .” Despite not having played in the tournament before , Greyeyes has already talked to several players who have participated in it to better understand what to expect in B . C . He knows many of the players will be bigger , stronger and faster than those he normally plays against – and that ’ s OK with him . In fact , Greyeyes is looking forward to it and feels the competition will ultimately make him a better player . “ I think it will help ( his development ). Playing against bigger , older guys always helps . You learn new things and you learn some of their tricks ,” says Greyeyes , a sixth-round draft pick of the Seattle Thunderbirds in the 2016 WHL Bantam Draft .
I ’ ve known about the tournament from a young age and I ’ ve wanted to be on the team for a while now . Being aboriginal I ’ ve always wanted to represent Manitoba
Team Manitoba will be made up of players from various club programs around the province . Greyeyes was named to the squad following a selection camp held before Christmas . The team held a series of practices in March and April and is scheduled to have at least one more session prior to the start of the tournament . Manitoba ’ s male team finished third at last year ’ s NAHC , held in Mississauga , Ont ., defeating Ontario 6-1 in the bronze medal game . Greyeyes says this year ’ s Team Toba has high hopes of improving on last year ’ s performance . “ Other guys from the team who played last year say our team now is even better than last year ’ s team and they finished third ,” he says . “ We want to win gold . That ’ s our goal . We all think we can do it with this group we have .” Greyeyes is hoping to carry over the strong second half he enjoyed with the RHA Nationals to this year ’ s NAHC . He finished the 2016-17 season with 10 goals and 34 points in 34 games despite being one of
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