By Spencer Sterritt

Lac La Ronge Indian Band wins big at PAGC rec hockey tournament

Jan 25, 2016 | 5:37 AM

It was a big weekend for the Lac La Ronge Indian Band, as both their men and women’s teams won at the Prince Albert Grand Council (PAGC) recreational hockey tournament over the weekend in Prince Albert.

The men’s team defeated Manitoba’s Norway House in overtime, and the women’s team triumphed over Montreal Lake.

This is the first year a women’s division has been included in the tournament. Five women’s teams played in the tournament.

“We started with a low number but hopefully it will pick up with more interest and more exposure,” PAGC sports, culture and recreation manager Mel Mecredi said.

With 27 teams coming from Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan, Mecredi said the tournament was great for boosting community pride.

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“This is a community event. They all know each other. That’s great to have, that inter-provincial competition,” he said.

Ron Michel, the Grand Chief of the PAGC, said the tournament builds on the strong connections that already existed between the provinces. “This is needed at this point in time for our young people, to get them as much as possible into sports, and to build their confidence.”

He said the PAGC shares many of the same issues as other First Nations communities around the country, which has strengthened the bonds between them. “Housing, the infrastructure, the economy and social issues. We build on that, and we get to know each other,” he said. 

Elmer Ballantyne coached the Montreal Lake women’s team. He said getting second was great for the team, since it was mostly players who had been drafted specifically for the weekend.

“We’ve got about four girls who are skating steady,” he said. “We ran out of gas [in the final game] because we had a game this morning. But that’s how it goes.”

Ballantyne hopes to draw eight teams for next year’s tournament.

Tournament pays tribute to La Loche tragedy

The rampage in La Loche that killed four weighed heavy on the minds of all PAGC staff and players during the tournament.

“Of course our hearts go out to the families,” Mecredi said.

A moment of silence was observed in the first Sunday morning game, and again after the final game.

Michel said he was devastated when he heard the news out of La Loche. He said the PAGC is offering any support they can, and their call centre for mental health is open to anyone from the community. They are also helping raise funds to pay for the funeral expenses for the victims.

“This is the time to pull together,” he said.

ssterritt@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @spencer_sterrit