The Whitefish Flyers and the La Ronge 89ers are looking to get back on the podium at this years Big River First Nation Spring Classic Hockey Tournament in Prince Albert. (Image Credit: MLT Photography/Facebook)

By Logan Lehmann

A lot on the line

Teams fighting for cash prizes at annual Big River Spring Classic tournament

Mar 27, 2026 | 1:18 PM

One lucky hockey team competing in the Big River First Nation’s 3rd annual Spring Classic Hockey Tournament will be leaving $50,000 richer. 

Twenty of the best Indigenous hockey teams from across the prairies are in Prince Albert this weekend for a chance at a slice of the $125,000 prize pool, with the winners taking home the $50,000 grand prize. This year’s grand prize is a major increase from last year’s $15,000, with last year’s overall prize pool totaling just $30,000.  

Second place in the 2026 tournament will be awarded $25,000, third place will get $15,000, and fourth will take home $5,000. Meanwhile, in the loser’s bracket, first place gets $15,000, second wins $7,500, third gets $5,000, and fourth will receive $2,500. 

A bracket of this weekend’s tournament. (Image Credit: Rez Hockey Podcast/Facebook)

Last year’s winners, the La Ronge 89ers, are back in the tournament this year, alongside second place finishers in the Sandy Lake Chiefs and third place winners, and tournament hosts, Whitefish Flyers.  

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Other competitors include top teams from the province like the Round Lake Bears, PBCN Stars, Canoe Lake Young Guns, and Beardy’s Blackhawks. The tournament also welcomes the Norway House Bruins from Manitoba. 

Teams also loaded up with some extra talent before the weekend with many notable hockey players sprinkled throughout the rosters. Some of those names include: 

• Pavel McKenzie (Moose Jaw Warriors, WHL) – Patuanak Pats 

• Trae Johnson (Swift Current Broncos, WHL) – Whitefish Flyers 

• Kishaun Gervais (Kalamazoo Wings, ECHL) – Round Lake Bears 

• Alex Roach (Hannover Indians, Germany3) – Canoe Lake Young Guns 

• Ashton Paul (Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs, SPHL) – Pasqua 79’s 

• Chantz Petruic (Univ. of Saskatchewan, USports) – PBCN Stars 

• Brody Claeys (Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs, SPHL) – Onion Lake Border Chiefs 

• Curtis Roach (HC Eppan Pirates, Italy2) – Whitefish Flyers 

• Ethan Buenaventura (Mount Royal Univ., USports) – Round Lake Bears 

• Tre Fouquette (Univ. of Calgary, USports) – Patuanak Pats 

The tournament got underway Friday morning at the Lake Country Co-op Leisure Centre with the PBCN Stars taking on Pelican Lake, with that game ending in a 7-0 victory for the Stars. Games will continue through Friday and Saturday with a champion being crowned on Sunday night at the Art Hauser Centre.  

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loganc.lehmann@pattisonmedia.com