The Thunder Chiefs men’s hockey club from Canadore College in North Bay, Ontario, made history by claiming the Men’s Class B Division Championship in Ouje-Bougoumou Cree Nations’ first Invitational Hockey Tournament, held Nov. 16 and 17.
The team captured first place in their division, recording three round-robin wins, including a nail-biter second game. The Thunder Chiefs were down 5-3, with 5 minutes remaining in the third period but rallied back with three goals, to win 6 to 5. The team won 8-2 in its semi-final game against the Nemaska Poachers.
An exciting final game followed, as the Thunder Chiefs were tied 3-3 with Maistiash, a team from Point Blue, at the end of regulation time. William Peace, a Canadore graduate, scored the OT winner to capture the game 4-3.
Peace was named MVP for the tournament, while Canadore General Arts and Science student Tommy Neeposh captured the top scorer award.
32 teams, from Ontario and Quebec, attended the tournament, which was held in the Ouje-Bougoumou Cree Nations new $12 million sports complex. 8 teams participated in the Class B division. The Thunder Chiefs, sponsored by Canadore’s Aboriginal Learning Unit and Chief Sam. R. Bosum of Ouge-Bougoumou, traveled 800 km to the Northern Quebec community.
Team members included: Allen Cooper, trainer and coach; Rodney Hester, Randy Weistche, David Wynne, Chris Gagnon, Billy McDaid, Marcel Erless, Derrick Shecapio, David J. Peace, Bill Blackned, Darryl Cheechoo, William Peace, Anthony Hughboy, Darren Peace, Tommy Neeposh, Paul Shecapio, Assistant Coach, and Charlie Small, Coach and Manager.
