By Spencer Sterritt

Local hockey players get financial boost from community

May 22, 2016 | 4:00 PM

Two James Smith Cree Nation hockey players couldn’t afford to play in the National Aboriginal Hockey Championships in Mississauga, Ontario (NAHC), but then a local initiative gave them the financial boost needed to play in the tournament.

Felicia Sewap and Leighton Burns-Marion, both 16, applied to Prince Albert First Nations Urban Youth Inc., a non-profit organization which helps pay sports fees for children and families who can’t afford it.

Sewap said the program has helped her reach her goals, saying “they made everything possible.”

It was her first year at the NAHC after playing hockey for years. “It was an honour to represent team Saskatchewan and playing with all these other amazing girls and getting the gold medal to bring back to Saskatchewan.”

The Saskatchewan female team was undefeated during the tournament, and defeated Ontario’s team 1-0 in the final.

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After taking gold in his first year, Burns-Marion didn’t make it as far as he’d hoped, going 1-4 and finishing last in their division.

Prince Albert First Nations Urban Youth Inc. was started a year ago by Annie and Terry Sanderson. Having five children themselves who were enrolled in fastball and soccer, they saw several children unable to pay the fees to play.

“It costs quite a bit,” Annie Sanderson said. “There’s entry fees and then all the other expenses, like travelling and accommodations. We were spending at least $400 a year to play soccer in Prince Albert.”

She said the sometimes high cost is worth it however. “It keeps them occupied. They’re too tired to do anything else, and they get good exercise too.”

ssterritt@panow.com

On Twitter: @spencer_sterrit