NHL Aboriginal hockey players on the Internet

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Bryan Trottier surprised many TSN viewers on Nov. 17 when, during his induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame, he thanked his mother for making him proud of his Aborignal ancestry.

Trottier accomplished a lot during his National Hockey League career. Winning the Stanley Cup six times with two teams is a feat worth boasting about, especially since he was one of the key players. But even many Aboriginal hockey fans didn't know he is part Aboriginal. That's something that should be shared with the Aboriginal communities of North America.

Just as most Russians are proud of the Russian stars in the NHL and the same with other ethnic groups, Native communities are proud when an Aboriginal hockey player attains the high honor of playing in the NHL.

It's important for young Aboriginal players and fans to know that their people are represented in the league. New communications technology makes that possible. A search of the Internet will provide information on any and all Aboriginal hockey players, thanks to one website at: http://www.du.edu/~svalerio/native.html.

This website even provides a list of Aboriginal players in junior, college and semi-pro leagues. The website is designed by Shannon Valerio and begins with these invigorating words: "Why devote a page strictly to Native players? To many of us Native Americans or Canadians, hockey is a sport that we have grown up with. In Canada, hockey has become part of our culture. Just go to any reserve, and you will find a hockey rink, despite the economic situation. Anyone who plays hockey knows the benefits of participating in a team sport, and hockey is a very positive experience for those Native people who participate. Thus, I feel it is appropriate to dedicate a page to those Indians who have beat the odds and made it to the professional level."

Valerio, is of Aboriginal descent. She is the Assistant Director of Minority Affairs at the University of Denver, Colorado. She has spent many years educating Native and non-Native people through classes, seminars, exhibit development, co-ordinating powwows and other educational events, publishing web pages on the Internet, and writing freelance articles. She is presently applying for PhD programs and working to get her company, First Nations Consultation and Design, up and running.

Shannon is also a hockey player. She loves the game and the positive effects it can have on youth. She recently revealed, through the Internet e-mail system (from Inuvik, Northwest Territories to Denver Colorado), that she and her husband will be working with an inner-city hockey program for Native youths in the Denver area.

Shannon has written many articles for Aboriginal newspapers on Aboriginal hockey players, one of these stories can be found on the Internet at: http://www.ayn.ca/pages/goalie.htm. It's a story that Valerio wrote for Windspeaker about a young goalie named Stephen Wagner. Maintaining her website is an unpaid hobby and she always welcomes input.

A roster of the most recent NHL Aboriginal hockey players is listed below in alphabetical order and additional information can be accessed through Shannon Valerio's website:

Blair Atcheynum St. Louis Blues

Craig Berube Washington Capitals

Scott Daniels New Jersey Devils

Gerald Diduck Phoenix Coyotes

Theoren Fleury Calgary Flames

Jeff Friesen San Jose Sharks

Grant Fuhr St. Louis Blues

Stu Grimson Carolina Hurricanes

Dan Kordic Philadelphia Flyers

Denny Lambert Ottawa Senators

Jamie McLennan St. Louis Blues

Sandy McCarthy Calgary Flames

Gino Odjick Vancouver Canucks

Mike Peluso Calgary Flames

Rich Pilon New York Islanders

Wade Redden Ottawa Senators

Jamie Rivers St. Louis Blues

Chris Simon Washington Capitals

Sheldon Sourway New Jersey Devils

Dennis Vial Ottawa Senators

Dody Wood San Jose Sharks

Harry York St. Louis Blues