A look in from the 2023 Youth Soccer Championships, hosted by Mosquito First Nation in North Battleford. (Facebook/Curtis Cameron Photography)

By Martin Martinson

FSIN Soccer Tourney

Mosquito First Nation hosts 2023 Youth Soccer Championships

Aug 3, 2023 | 10:37 AM

Over 1,200 players from 77 teams representing 16 different First Nations communities across the province came to North Battleford over the weekend, as Mosquito, Grizzly Bear’s Head, Lean Man First Nation hosted the 2023 FSIN Youth Soccer Championships.

It was a packed three-day event from Friday to Sunday with opening ceremonies at the Nationswest Fieldhouse, a youth dance at the Northland Power Curling Centre, fireworks, and a drive-in movie among the attractions.

Executive director of Battlefords Youth Soccer, Kelly Villeneuve, who served as co-coordinator of the event said the tournament turned was an even bigger success than they expected.

“We really focused on the athlete experience and we got a lot of compliments on how the event went,” he said. “We hosted this [back in 2017] through another community and only had 55 teams, so we were hoping for [at least] 60, but I think the sport of soccer is really growing in the First Nations communities and this really speaks to that.”

The weekend featured teams at each of the U9, U11, U13, U15, and U17 levels, with soccer games all throughout the weekend, at four community fields in North Battleford, including Holy Family, Centennial Park, the Inside Track, and the North Comp.

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The Fieldhouse was also open throughout Saturday for the athletes to play and lounge indoors, with bouncy castles, bubble soccer, and open courts to play their sport or activity of choice between games.

Villeneuve said it couldn’t have been possible to bring things together like they did if not for both Mosquito First Nation and North Battleford pitching in to work together, with the result being an event that benefitted both.

“We utilized the facilities in North Battleford as it was more central and a lot of the teams filled up a lot of the hotels and restaurants, so we know the economy of the Battlefords was given a huge boost this past weekend [and] Mosquito First Nation had a lot of volunteers, they had a lot of workers, and put a lot into this [financially] as well and it showed.

“I think a lot of people appreciated that.”

Each championship team from the weekend was given gold medals, a trophy, a banner, and individual duffel bags to commemorate the tournament.

Surrounding First Nations communities such as Mosquito, Red Pheasant, Sweetgrass, Saulteaux, Moosomin, Little Pine, and Poundmaker all sent multiple teams to participate in the event.

Villeneuve said having seen the success of this year’s tournament, it could be only a matter of time until it returns to North Battleford in support of one of the other surrounding First Nations.

“There are already communities from the North Battleford region looking at [exploring a bid for] hosting in North Battleford again next year so that’s encouraging,” he said.

Mosquito First Nation is also hosting the 2023 FSIN Adult Soccer Championships coming up on the September long weekend, which could be coming to North Battleford as well, with a decision expected to be made soon.

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1