(Upper Deck/Facebook)

By Jaryn Vecchio

Recognizing Indigenous Talent

Sask. Indigenous hockey player excited to see fellow Indigenous players get first trading cards

Jan 20, 2023 | 2:00 PM

Upper Deck, a trading card company, is releasing rookie cards for eight Canadian Indigenous hockey players who’ve never had a licensed card before.

Three of the players are from Saskatchewan: Johnny Harms, Rocky Trottier, and William LeCaine. Danny Hodgson, who captained the Prince Albert Raiders to the 1985 Memorial Cup championship, is also included in the collection, as are Dan Frawley, Victor Mercredi, Ted Nolan, and Jason Simon.

Jon Mirasty, an Indigenous hockey player from Meadow Lake who played in several leagues including multiple exhibition games for the Columbus Blue Jackets, said these cards are another way of recognizing the hard work they put in.

“Sometimes you find it to be a little more difficult to get to those levels being Indigenous,” he said. “There are a lot of obstacles that get in the way, whether it be having a hard time believing to maybe the odd racism.”

Mirasty has several cards of himself from his playing time. His first highlights his time playing for the Prince Albert Raiders.

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Although it’s been a few years since he got his first licensed card, he still remembers just how excited he was.

“The recognition you get, sometimes our people don’t get the recognition, so it’s something really cool to have out there.”

Mirasty also believes these cards will have a bigger impact than just recognizing eight players. He can see Indigenous youth being inspired to continue trying to make their dreams come true, whether it’s playing hockey or something else.

“A lot of our Indigenous youth look up to those players, not just Indigenous but everyone.”

Meanwhile, the cards were designed by Jacob Alexis, an Indigenous artist from the Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation.

The card backs were also written by Naim Cardinal, a member of Tallcree First Nation.

“These former players have earned their names and images on official trading cards, and it’s great to see both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people honor them as athletes in a real way,” said Cardinal in a release from Upper Deck.

The cards are currently being distributed at Indigenous hockey camps and at First Row Collectibles in Winnipeg, an Indigenous-owned Certified Diamond Dealer hobby shop.

Fans can also get their hands on them at the Mushkegowuk Cup taking place from Feb. 17-19, an annual minor hockey tournament that brings together First Nations teams and fans, as well as the Little Native Hockey League Tournament happening from Mar. 13-18.

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Jaryn.Vecchio@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @princealbertnow