Saskatchewan Teams Hoping To Defend Titles

Both of the squads considered THE teams to beat at this year’s National Aboriginal Hockey Championships are from Saskatchewan. But that’s only because rankings for this year’s tournament, which began April 2 in Halifax, are based solely on the results from the 2014 NAHC.

Saskatchewan clubs won both the girls’ and boys’ division at last year’s tournament, which was held in Kahnawake, Que.

As a result, both of the Saskatchewan entries are seeded Number 1 at this year’s event, which continues until May 2. Both categories at the upcoming nationals will feature eight entrants.

In the girls’ division, Ontario and the Quebec-based club dubbed Eastern Door and the North (EDN), are seeded second and third, respectively. Meanwhile, in the boys’ category, British Columbia is ranked second, while Alberta is seeded third.

Both the female and male groupings will feature the same eight entries. Also taking part will be squads from Manitoba, Team North (Yukon, Nunavut and Northwest Territories) and Team Atlantic (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, as well as Newfoundland and Labrador).

All squads will play three round-robin contests. Then all teams will be reseeded based on these results, prior to their quarter-final games.

Both of the championship finals, as well as the two bronze-medal matches, will be held at the Scotiabank Centre. This facility, which can accommodate about 12,000 spectators, is also the home of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League’s Halifax Mooseheads.

All of the other NAHC matches will be staged at the BMO Centre in the neighbouring community of Bedford. This marks the 14th consecutive year the NAHC has been held. The inaugural event was held in Akwesasne, Ont.

The tournament, which has been staged in various locations across the country since then, primarily features Bantam and Midget players. A few overagers, however, are allowed in the girls’ division.