Native Stanley Cup goes to Ontario squad

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An out-of-province club took top honours at a Saskatchewan tournament which has long been dubbed the All-Native Stanley Cup.

Misty's, a team based out of Ontario's Slant Lake, won the championship final at the 42nd annual senior men's hockey tournament run by the Battleford's Indian and Metis Friendship Centre (BIMFC).

The event, which began March 31 and ran until April 2, was staged at the North Battleford Civic Centre.

Misty's defeated Saskatchewan's Poundmaker First Nation 5-2 in the championship final.

That enabled the Ontario squad to avenge its lone tournament loss, a 3-2 round-robin setback against Poundmaker. That match had been settled with a shootout after the clubs were deadlocked at 2-2 following regulation play.

"I expected them to come back and have a good game in the final," said tournament chairman Vince Sauvie.

Besides about a dozen players from Ontario, Misty's roster also included three players from Saskatchewan, three from Manitoba and two from Alberta.

Sauvie added Misty's lineup had about 12 players who are either still playing or have played in a minor professional hockey league.

Organizers were expecting to have 14 participating squads but only 12 showed up.

A Manitoba-based club failed to come after some of their players were involved in a vehicle accident en route to the tournament.

Yet Sauvie, and many others, were still impressed with the play of those squads that did compete.

"The Misty's coach (Rodney Castle) said this was the best tournament he had ever been to," Sauvie said.

For winning the championship final the Misty's club took home the top prize of $12,000.

As the runner-up, the Poundmaker side was awarded $8,000 and the third-place team, Saulteaux from Saskatchewan was presented with a $5,000 cheque.

Participants also raved about the quality and quantity of trophies and other awards handed out. Sauvie said tournament organizers spent more than $2,000 on the awards.

Also, various families donated numerous memorial awards, collectively totaling more than $500.

Sauvie added he was not surprised with the number of minor pro players who took part in the event.

"We are one of the top tournaments in western Canada," he said. "The calibre of play is quite high."

Misty's was the lone Ontario club that took part. Also competing were seven teams from Saskatchewan, three from Alberta and one from Manitoba.

Besides winning the final, Misty's also had four of its players named to the tournament's all-star team. They were forwards Jamie Muswagon and Tyler Shantz, defenceman Gary Roach and goaltender Stephen Wagner.

The all-star team also included a pair of Poundmaker players, defenceman Vinnie Johanson and forward Tyson Wuttunee.

The Misty's club also took home some additional hardware. For starters, Misty's was chosen as the most sportsmanlike team.

Castle was chosen as the best coach, Wagner took home best goalie honors and Muswagon was selected as the tournament's most valuable player.

Poundmaker's Ryan Corigal was named as the event's most sportsmanlike player.