A popular Aboriginal hockey tournament will not be hitting the ice this year.
The annual Battlefords Indian Metis Friendship Centre All Native Hockey Tournament — which was scheduled for the Easter weekend — isn’t going ahead due to a lack of interest, according to organizers.
The event, also known as the “Stanley Cup of Aboriginal Hockey”, has been a staple in Saskatchewan for fifty years, attracting skilled Aboriginal players to North Battleford every April.
Officials with the BIMFC turned down MBC’s request for an interview today, but reaction from the Aboriginal hockey community came pouring in.
“I’ve played in that tournament before, I’m quite surprised, that’s all I can say right now,” said Clarence Iron, a Cree language play-by-play announcer who used to be a regular at the tournament.
Only seven teams took part in last year’s edition of the tournament.
In recent years, players have only been allowed to play for their own community and teams have been limited to three imports.
Before that change came in effect in 2013, teams were free to actively recruit players from outside their host community — but organizers wanted the tournament to return to its roots.