Stars’ trio named to National Aboriginal Hockey Championships

Blanchard will be joined by a few familiar faces heading into play, including a teammate of his from this season with the Prince Albert Mintos U18 AAA team, Konnor Watson.

“He was my billet brother actually, and he also made the team so that’s pretty cool,” Blanchard said with a laugh. “Then I’ve played a lot of tournaments with these other guys like the Oskana Cup and Westerns, and you play against a lot of guys in AAA, so there’s a lot you know from that.”

Featuring top Aboriginal hockey players from across the country born from 2005-2007, this will mark the 20^th year of the NAHC, something returning forward Ayden Belanger said makes it special to be a part of.

“I think it’s pretty amazing, there’s plenty of very talented athletes going to play hockey, and it brings in tons of people who otherwise maybe wouldn’t have the chance to see these younger Indigenous athletes [compete]. I really love the recognition we’re able to get at these tournaments and it’s amazing it’s been going for two decades now,” he said.

After being named to last year’s Saskatchewan roster as an alternate, Belanger will be a regular with the team this year, and said he’s looking forward to the chance to compete game-in and game-out this time around.

“I’m looking forward to probably the best competition I’ve had in hockey so far,” Belanger said. “This year I’m going to get to play every game, be there with all my teammates throughout the entire tournament and be able to compete against the best from all over Canada, so that’s probably what I’m looking forward to most.”

Dayne Henry was also on last year’s silver medal-winning Saskatchewan squad, alongside his brother and former North Stars’ forward Matthew Henry. He said returning this time around having had that experience under his belt, he’s embracing his role as a veteran of the tournament, as one of just eight returnees from last year’s team.

“I think after going through it once and going all the way to the finals you can learn a lot to teach the guys who haven’t yet played there,” Henry said.

“Obviously last year we finished second, and we want to keep that going into this year, helping the guys who just made the team as first-years; just bringing that experience and trying to help them come along and stay cool under pressure.”

Henry said what stands out most from his first year was the team’s ability to come together quickly and unify as a group, despite being from numerous different teams and leagues throughout the province.

“Last year I feel like that was the closest team I’ve ever been on,” Henry said, reflecting on the experience. “We all knew each other from different backgrounds, but after coming together we really became a close-knit group and we still talk even a year later, so I’m hoping to do the same this year and continue to make new friendships.”

While Dayne will be without his brother Matthew Henry this year, he will still be joined by another family member, as goaltender Josh Henry of the P.A. Mintos U18 AAA team was also named to the Sask roster.

“He’s my cousin from Prince Albert, and I haven’t played hockey with him outside of three games before COVID shut everything down, so this will be my first chance to actually play with him which I’m looking forward to too,” Dayne said.

Six teams from across the nation will compete at this year’s National Aboriginal Hockey Championships, including Team Saskatchewan, Team Manitoba, Team Alberta, Team BC, Team Atlantic, and Team Eastern Door and the North (EDN) representing Quebec First Nations and Inuit players.

The games on May 7-13 in Winnipeg will be available via online stream through the NAHC 2023 website.

The full Team Sask Roster for 2023 is available here.

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1

by Martin Martinson

Stars’ trio named to National Aboriginal Hockey Championships

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