Young player chosen for tourney in Russia

Though he’s just 11, Samuel Assinewai is gearing up to represent Canada in an international hockey competition.

Assinewai, who is Ojibwe, was selected to represent his country at the inaugural Russian World Hockey Challenge. The tournament will be held in Moscow from May 5 to May 9.

This event will include teams with players born between 2001 through 2005.

Assinewai, a Grade 6 student at Little Current Public School on Ontario’s Manitoulin Island, will play for one of the two Canadian entrants featuring players born in 2004.

Assinewai, who has an April birthday and will turn 12 before the tournament, is understandably pumped to participate in the Russian event.

“I’m excited,” he said.

But the youngster, who lives on the Aundeck Omni Kaning First Nation, is not quite sure of what to expect in terms of the calibre of play at the tournament.

“I’ll see how the first game goes,” he said.

Assinewai is currently a member of the Sudbury-based Nickel City Sons’ Minor Peewee AAA squad.

This marks his first season of playing in the AAA ranks, the highest level of competition in youth hockey.

Playing in Sudbury is a huge commitment. The youngster travels to Sudbury, a return trip can take as much as four hours, an average of five times per week.

Assinewai usually has two games per week with the Sudbury squad, as well as two practices and one dryland training session.

A Toronto-based company called CAD Sports Management is helping to organize the Canadian entrants for the Russian tournament. Officials with the company scouted and consulted with various AAA coaches to find the best prospective players for the Canadian entrants.

The 2004 age grouping will include two teams from Canada. Assinewai will be on a squad with players from across Ontario and Quebec.

There will also be another Canadian side for this age grouping, comprised of players from western provinces.

CAD Sports Management officials compiled a list of 100 possible players for the two teams of 2004-born players.

Company officials then sent out invitations in November to 34 individuals, those deemed to be in the Top 17 of each squad.

“We had no idea about this (tournament),” said Assinewai’s father Shaun. “It was kind of a surprise to us when we did hear about it.”

The elder Assinewai was not told where CAD Sports Management officials saw his son in action. But the Nickel City Sons did compete in a Toronto tournament in November.

It remains to be seen, however, how many of those players, believed to be among the Top 17 for their squad, will accept the invite to compete in the Russian tournament. That’s because participants need to pay a hefty cost in order to take part. The family of each Canadian player is required to pay a fee of close to $7,000 (U.S.), which works out to about $10,000 Canadian these days.

The fee will include 11 days of hotel costs, transportation, sightseeing tours and team activities. Each club is guaranteed to play six matches in the tournament.

If some of the 17 players chosen for the squad opt not to take part, then organizers will extend invites to others on the Top 100 list until a full roster is set.

Despite the costs associated with competing in the tournament, Assinewai’s family agreed to have him play.

“I think it’s a great opportunity and a great experience,” said Shaun Assinewai.

The registration fee allows one parent to travel with each competing player. Samuel’s mother Lauren is also keen to make the trip. Since both parents will be attending, the family has to pay an additional $2,700.

Shaun Assinewai is anxiously anticipating the games against Russian clubs.

“From watching Russia versus Canada games at any level, I think it’s going to be exciting,” he said. “To me the top nations in hockey have always been Russia and Canada.”

Assinewai believes the exposure his son receives at the Russian tournament could possibly lead to other opportunities. If he does play well, his son could be asked to join a squad for some prestigious spring or summer tournaments.

“Maybe somebody will see him and this will lead him to play in some of the AAA tournaments in Toronto,” he said.

The Assinewai name is well known in the Aboriginal hockey community. That’s because Samuel’s grandfather Marvin is the president of the Little Native Hockey League Tournament – more commonly known as the Little NHL – which is held annually.