North Battleford gearing up for annual hockey tourney

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The 43rd annual Battleford's Indian and Metis Friendship Centres's All Native Hockey Tournament is scheduled to take to the ice of the North Battleford Civic Centre from April 6 to 8.

All tournament participants must prove their Native ancestry before being allowed to compete in the tournament, which over the years has become known as the Native Stanley Cup.

Jackie Kennedy, executive director of the friendship centre, is responsible for organizing this year's tournament. She believes there's a simple reason for the event's longevity.

"I guess it stands alone on its name," she said.

Organizers are hoping to have 16 men's teams compete at this year's event, which features full-contact action. The 2006 tourney was supposed to have 14 entrants but only a dozen clubs took part following a couple of last-minute withdrawals, including one club from Manitoba that was forced to withdraw after some team players were involved in a car accident en route to the event.

An Ontario-based team from Slant Lake dubbed Misty's was the winners of last year's tournament, defeating Saskatchewan's Poundmaker First Nation 5-2 in the championship final. Misty's roster included about a dozen players from Ontario as well as players from Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Alberta.

Teams from Saskatchewan, Ontario, Manitoba, Alberta and British Columbia have all expressed interest in taking part in this year's event, Kennedy said.

No doubt, some of that interest has to do with a decision by tournament organizer to boost the amount of prize money they will hand out this year-a total of $30,000, up from last year's total purse of $25,000.

In addition to increasing the amount of money they will award, organizers have also decided to reward more squads.

"Usually we (award money) to first, second and third," Kennedy said. "But this year we're going from first to fifth. And the fifth place team is guaranteed to win back its entry fee and then some. That's an extra bonus for the teams."

The fifth-place finishers will actually more than double their registration fee, as their take-home cheque will be $2,000. The team that captures the championship will win considerably more-$12,500.

The runner-up side will earn $8,000, the third-place club will be awarded $5,000 and the fourth-place finishers will take home a cheque for $2,500.

The All Native Hockey Tournament is regarded as one of the top Native hockey events in western Canada and traditionally attracts some ex-pro players. For example, the roster of last year's championship-winning team included about a dozen individuals who had either played in or were still playing in a minor pro circuit.

"It's just good Native hockey," Kennedy said. "We get very good players and very competitive players."

For more tournament information call Kennedy at (306) 445-8216.