Alberta takes another run at national championship

Page 7

Now that they know what to expect, Alberta's entries are hoping to turn in medal-winning performances at this year's National Aboriginal Hockey Championships.

Alberta will once again be represented by both girls and boys teams at the nationals, scheduled for April 17 to 23 in Miramichi, N.B.

This marks the fourth year the hockey championships have been staged. Alberta was not represented at the first two tournaments held in Akwesasne, Ont. in 2002 and 2003. Alberta got its first taste of national hockey action at the 2004 tournament held in Prince George, B.C.

Both Alberta squads placed fifth in their division at last year's nationals. The girls category featured seven entrants. And there were eight participating teams in the boys grouping.

Leiha Crier, who is once again coaching the Alberta girls side, has nine returning players on her roster.

"This year I want to make it into the top three," she said, adding both the Ontario South and Ontario North entries are expected to be legitimate medal contenders.

This year's nationals will feature nine clubs in both the girls' and boys' divisions.

For the first time, the Northwest Territories will be sending teams. Also taking part, in both categories, will be clubs representing British Columbia, Manitoba and Saskatchewan. There will also be the Quebec-based teams dubbed Eastern Door and the North, as well as clubs representing the Atlantic provinces.

Crier said she now knows what to expect from the nationals.

"It was our first experience last year," she said. "I didn't know what to expect from the calibre of play. It's pretty high."

Despite being newcomers to the nationals a year ago, Crier had set a lofty goal.

"Last year I expected our team to win," she said. "But either we'd have a bad start or a bad finish."

Crier also said her charges have a different makeup this season.

"We lost a lot of big girls, but we gained a lot of speed," she said.

Besides setting a team goal of winning a medal, Crier is also hoping some of her players are again singled out following the tournament.

Last year four members of the Alberta girls squad were named to the tournament All-Star team. As a result, they were all invited to a seven-day Native high performance camp held in Ottawa last July.

A similar camp will be held for those named to the All-Star club at this year's nationals.

"I'm hoping to have more than four make it this year," Crier said. "I just want to improve each year the recognition that they get."

As for Danny Buffalo, the coach of the Alberta boys club, he has just two returning players on this year's roster. The lone holdovers are forward Emery White and defenceman Curtis Wood.

"I think we've got, at least on paper, a better team than we had last year," Buffalo said.

The club has also had more time to prepare.

"We didn't have a tryout camp last year," Buffalo added. "We were a last-minute entry."

As for this season, the Alberta boys tryout camp, which attracted about 40 participants, was held in Hobbema in late December.

Those who managed to crack the roster include a pair of players toiling at the Junior A Tier II level this season. They are forwards Judd Blackwater and Ryan Desarlais.

Both are playing in the Alberta Junior Hockey League.

Blackwater is a member of the Brooks Bandits while Desarlais is with the Bonnyville Pontiacs.

Buffalo anticipates both the Ontario South and Ontario North entrants will once again provide stiff opposition at this year's nationals.

"They've always got some good hockey players," he said of the Ontario squads.

Ontario North won the championship boys title last season, defeating Ontario South 5-3 in the gold-medal contest.

Meanwhile, Ontario South won its third consecutive girls' crown, beating Eastern Door and the North 5-2 in their final.