Total Sports Simcoe County Edition, Winter 2016 Winter 2016 Issue | Page 8

The Beausoleil First Nation Hockey Teams and the Richmond Hill Stars The Spirit of Friendship By: Rose McKenzie and KC Reynolds It’s another great year for the Beausoleil First Nation hockey teams as they prepare for the Little NHL tournament in Mississauga on March 14-17, thanks to the generosity of the Richmond Hill Stars. It all started last year when coach Edmond Sandy was outside of the Midland arena fixing old equipment so that his teams could play safely. A parent of a Richmond Hills Star player, Graham McWaters, stopped to inquire what Sandy was doing and the beginning of a beautiful friendship was formed. What Graham found out was that the youth of Beausoleil First Nation on Christian Island, were sharing equipment and travelling quite a distance just to try and get some ice time in. The kids had to get to the dock on the island, take a 20 minute ferry ride, and then another 20 minute drive to get to the arena. Graham recognized how lucky he and his players were and took on the challenge of trying to help this dedicated group of players and volunteers. In 2015, they were able to get equipment together along with some donated monies for jerseys and other items needed for the tournament. Fast forward to 2016 where the players and coaches are so grateful to McWaters and the Stars, who have collected hockey gear to help the Little NHL players get suited up for the upcoming tournament. The Stars have been eager to help, collecting about thirty bags of hockey equipment. On January 23, the hockey equipment arrived and was unloaded at a new arena on the island. Coaches, 8 Totalsportsalliance.com players, and family members, along with the Chief and Council were all on hand to receive the equipment from McWaters and some of the Stars players’. “They’ve made a lot of kids really happy”, said Rose Mckenzie, a longtime volunteer of the teams and the person who has been the point person with McWaters and his group. The Christian Island hockey players are now skating on their own rink as of December. The Beausoleil First Nation received the necessary resources to open up their own indoor facility so the players no longer have to rent ice time nor make the long trek off of the island just to practice. The Little NHL tournament is made up exclusively of First Nation teams from Ontario. Last year, over 180 teams attended the event. This year, the Beausoleil First Nation will bring four teams to the tournament; boys’ midget, mixed novice, mixed peewee, and a girl’s bantam team, with more than 40 players attending from the island. The Little NHL tournament is always an educational experience for each player. Children and youth from many different communities, languages, lifestyles, and backgrounds gather in the spirit of friendship to meet, get to know one another, and of course, to play hockey. For further information, please contact Rose Mckenzie at [email protected].