By Bryan Eneas

Holiday Aboriginal Hockey Classic well underway in P.A.

Dec 16, 2016 | 1:44 PM

With the Holiday Aboriginal Hockey Classic in town, a large influx of Indigenous hockey players are visiting Prince Albert from around Saskatchewan.

The tournament features many different age divisions and due to high interest, a women’s division.

Kenya Bugler is one of the players competing in the women’s division; she calls Beardy’s and Okemasis First Nation home but she’s in town to play some hockey with her fellow Beardy’s residents.

“My dad kind of started skating with me, and all my older cousins played hockey,” Bugler said. “I started skating with them and became interested, and then it became a passion.”

Bugler said she sees hockey as a community sport. She started playing with people she knew, and now the sport keeps her from developing bad habits or getting into trouble.

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She started playing seven years ago, while she was still in the atom division. Now, at 15, she is one of the youngest players representing Beardy’s at the Holiday Aboriginal Hockey Classic.

“I enjoy playing with the women from my reserve,” Bugler said. “It’s just something we never get to do too often, we don’t get to enter tournaments, it’s a first.”

Bugler said she’s passionate about hockey. Last year, she played in both a men’s and women’s league. She said playing with the boys provides a different set of challenges on the ice.

“[The] hitting, going into corners, and worrying if I’m going to get cranked behind the net or not,” Bugler said. “You always have to keep your head up.”

Despite those challenges, she’s still doing what she loves. For Bugler, health plays a big role in why she plays hockey.

“Being healthy is probably one of the big things you need to be, you need to be in shape,” Bugler said. “You just need to be fit.”

The Holiday Aboriginal Hockey Classic will take place until Sunday. Games are slated to be played at the Art Hauser Centre today and Sunday, and at the Kinsmen Arena on Saturday. Admission for spectators is $10 at the door.

Bryan.Eneas@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @BryanEneas