It is the first time ever that a Cree hockey team has entered a structured hockey league in the Abitibi region, the Bantam “CC” Inter-Cite.
Stan Jones initiated the project of hosting Bantam CC tournaments in James Bay, starting with Chisasibi. Stan is the director of hockey development and works for the Cree Regional Authority.
The event was held to give the guest teams from Amos, Chibougamau and Rouyn a chance to get to know the newest hockey team in their league, the Cree Nation Bears. The tournament also allowed these boys and their coaches to experience a cultural trip in Chisasibi.
The tournament would not have been possible without the help of the volunteers, foster families, all the generous local sponsors, Madeline Matthew and her cooks, the support of parents of the boys who are playing with the Bears, the involvement of our chief, Charles Bobbish, and especially the population of Chisasibi and its support for the Bears and warm welcome given to the guest teams.
It was a great success not only because we witnessed a new calibre of hockey introduced in our community, and our boys being part of it, showing us they do have their place in this league… not only because of a great spectacle of hockey we got to see… not only because of the good relationship between the four participating teams… but certainly because of all the positive comments coming out about this tournament, from the crowd, the foster families, the hockey teams’ coaches and the hockey players themselves.
The visiting boys commented that they realized their neighbours, the Crees, live the typical type of teenagers’ life they do in their respective cities, only in their own Cree language in an environment proper to their culture and traditions.
For these reasons, it was worth it! For these reasons, we want to believe our Cree Nation Bears will integrate into this hockey league, not only as respected hockey players, but also as equals!
Good luck to the Cree Nation Bears for their upcoming hockey season.
For people interested in the scores of the games, which were not considered a priority during this tournament, here they are:
1st place: Rouyn-Noranda
2nd: Amos
Final Score: Rouyn 2, Amos 0
3rd: Chibougamau
4th: Cree Nation Bears
Final: Chihgou. 6, Bears 5
All Star Team
Goalie: Yannick Bisson (Rouyn)
Defense: Michel Cloutier (Rouyn)
Defense: Inimiki Poison (Amos)
Forward: Jerry Matoush (Bears)
Forward: Dany Lalonde (Chiboug.)
Forward: Ruan Guillemette (Amos)
