The jerseys worn by Team Saskatchewan at the 2022 National Aboriginal Hockey Championships will pay tribute to first nations' veterans as well as missing and murdered indigenous women and girls. (Facebook. Ken Thomas)

By Nigel Maxwell

Game On

National Aboriginal Hockey Championships returning to Sask. in 2022

Apr 7, 2020 | 3:17 PM

A national hockey tournament is coming to Saskatchewan after all.

The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) has been informed the National Aboriginal Hockey Championship will be held at the Cooperators Centre in Regina from May 7 to 14, 2022.

The announcement comes less than a month after organizers were informed this year’s scheduled tournament would be cancelled due to concerns around COVID-19. The FSIN’s Director of Sports, Culture and Recreation Ken Thomas was relieved to hear the news.

“There was disappointment when we lost [the tournament], but when I got the call yesterday, then it was fine,” he said.

The championships were originally scheduled to take place in May of this year in Regina, but the organizing committee was informed on March 12 about the need to cancel. Thomas said the committee immediately got to work and put in a recommendation to the aboriginal sports council to give Saskatchewan a chance to host the games in 2022.

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“I didn’t take 2021 because Winnipeg was already awarded 2021,” he said

Thomas explained it’s still a bit disappointing still as there were a number of players this year who wont be eligible to participate in 2022. That being said, Thomas added he is still glad to hear Saskatchewan will have an opportunity to host the week long tournament.

“Economic wise it’ll be good for the province and for the City of Regina, so hopefully we will benefit from it also as the hosts,” he said.

The team selection camp for 2022 will likely be held in the spring of that year.

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nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell