Media Releases
July 8th, 2008
Manitoba to host the 2009 National Aboriginal Hockey Championships
The Aboriginal Sport Circle, who Governs the National Aboriginal High Performance Program, recently awarded the rights to the Manitoba Bid Committee to host the 2009 National Aboriginal Hockey Championships next May. This event will be Co-Hosted by M.K.O. (Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak), MMF (Manitoba Metis Federation), K.T.C. (Keewatin Tribal Council), and Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation. The championships serve as the premier competition for minor level Aboriginal hockey in Canada.
The championships provide a forum for elite Bantam/Midget age Aboriginal hockey players, which attracts participation from First Nations, Inuit, and Métis within each of the thirteen Provinces and Territories of Canada. The long-term vision for the championships is to establish a competitive structure that will serve as the impetus for grassroots and regional Aboriginal hockey development. This will give our under exposed and under privileged athletes a chance to make it to the next level.
“This has been something that we as an organization have been perusing for the last couple years and we are very excited and feel that with Manitoba being such a great supporter of Hockey at the Grassroots level that this will be a very successful tournament”, Peter Symchuk, High Performance Chair for the Manitoba Aboriginal Sport and Recreation Council.
The event will be held at the Max bell center at the University of Manitoba, but if the corporate community supports this, the bid committee will be looking at the MTS center for the medal rounds. It will be a chance for the province, city and the MTS center to once again show its ability to host major Canadian events.
“We need the support from the business community and organizations to make these the best NAHC ever. I want this event to be comparable to the 2002 NAIG, which raised the bar for all aboriginal events”, says Darryl Bauer, Manitoba Bid Committee Chairman.
For more information call Darryl Bauer at 925-5637.
