Community recognizes past hockey greats

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The members of Little Pine First Nation took time out from a recent hockey tournament to recognize a handful of players from the community who dominated the game in years gone by.

Five players were recognized during an on-ice ceremony on Feb. 14 during the Little Pine Braves Hockey Tournament in Cut Knife. The players received plaques and had their numbers officially retired.

According to Victor Checkosis Jr., one of the organizers of the event, the numbers were being retired both to honour the players, who excelled at the game in the 1960s but never received the recognition they deserved, and to promote excellence in hockey.

One of the players who saw their number retired was Victor "Moose" Checkosis, who was raised on Little Pine where he learned to skate on frozen ponds and on the Battle River. As a young man he played for many teams and, together with Andy Pete Sr. and the late Alex B. Kennedy, built the Little Pine Braves. Checkosis played defense wearing #2, the same number sported by the legendary Chicago Blackhawks blueliner Elmer "Moose" Vasko. Because of his number, and his size, Checkosis became known as "Big Moose."

Today, Checkosis is chief of Little Pine, and over the years has also been a band councillor, school guidance councillor, and National Native Alcohol and Drug Abuse Program co-ordinator. He lives on the First Nation with his nine boys, most of whom are also hockey players, and he still plays hockey.

Another honouree was Jerry "Jerry Pie" Bear, #4, who was noted for his end-to-end rushes. A smooth skater with speed and a booming slapshot, he became a lethal weapon for the Braves. Bear grew up on Little Pine's west side and, along with his brothers, he learned to skate on the Battle River. He started playing hockey at a very early age and, by watching Bobby Orr on TV, soon adopted the same style of play and often scored important goals. He played with the Cut Knife Colts for four seasons and shared in two provincial championships with the team.

Bear worked on CPR work gangs and graduated to operating machines, repairing a lot of railroads in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. He has twice been elected to council, and now operates his own business. He still lives on Little Pine and, although he no longer plays hockey likes to watch the game.

Jehu Baptiste, another of the past players recognized, played with the Braves right from day one. He became known for his skating and stick handling, and his end-to-end rushes on right wing led to his specialty wrap around goals in many a game.

Baptiste learned hockey at an early age from his father, David Baptiste, and played hockey when boys from Little Pine, Poundmaker and Sweetgrass would get together on one of the creeks. He also played hockey at the Duck Lake residential school and for the Cut Knife Colts for five years, including two years when the team was league champion. Baptiste also played for the Neilburg Monarchs where he scored the winning goal in a provincial championship.

Today, Baptiste lives in Marshall and works as an alcohol and drug addiction councillor for Little Pine. Before that he was a building contractor.

Wesley Favel, #27, a feisty, hard-hitting right-winger, play maker and leader off and on the ice, was another player recognized. Favel created opportunities for the Little Pine Braves when the game got tough. One highlight of his career was to play and win the championship game with the Junior "B" Lebret Indians against St. Thomas from North Battleford.

Favel joined the Canadian army and was posted in Manitoba. Upon his return, he obtained an electrician ticket and moved to Edmonton where he worked for many years and played for the Braves at tournaments. He continued to play oldtimers hockey until he was 60, and was also involved in organizing tournaments in Hobbema and Edmonton. He now works as an electrical contractor, and leaves the hockey playing to his sons and grandsons.

The fifth plaer, Herman Jackson, #9-the same number sported by Gordie Howe-was a smooth gliding machine on the ice. A fancy stick handler, with a flip of his wrist he could score a goal from anywhere in front of the net.

Jackson was scouted and invited to training camp by a Detroit Redwings scout.

Other things, however, distracted him from playing in the NHL.

He earned the nickname "Gretzky" before Gretzky was even a household word-he was that good. And like the great one, he retired early and hung up his skates.

Jackson's love of hockey continues today, but is mainly limited to him watching his favourite team, the Detroit Redwings, on television. Jackson was the only player recognized who was unable to attend the ceremony.

The players who were at the ceremony appreciated the recognition they received from the community. Checkosis and Bear both said they saw the ceremony as a way for the younger generation to connect with their community's history, to understand the importance of past events, and to take pride in past accomplishments. Checkosis added that he hoped this ceremony was just the beginning of honouring and recognizing individuals for their accomplishments.

Three other community members were also honoured during the awards ceremony. Former Braves players Barry Bonaise, Clarence Baptiste and Frances Jimmy Thunderchild received medals in recognition of their past and continuing involvement with the team.