Top Indigenous hockey players set to represent British Columbia at Elite Competition
Victoria, B.C. (May 8, 2022) – The Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity & Recreation Council (I∙SPARC) is pleased to announce the players and volunteer staff who will represent British Columbia in the 2022 National Aboriginal Hockey Championships (NAHC). The 2022 NAHC takes place in Membertou First Nation, Nova Scotia, from May 7 to May 14, 2022.
I·SPARC hosted its Team BC Player Selection Camp from April 8-10, 2022 in Chilliwack, B.C. where 147 elite Indigenous male and female hockey players participated in the three-day process. From the camp, twenty male and twenty female hockey players were selected. These players will not only represent BC, but they will also proudly represent their Indigenous Nations and communities at this prestigious national championship.
“Congratulations to all our Team BC players, coaches, and staff participating in the National Aboriginal Hockey Championships. Due to the pandemic, it has been two years since the NAHC was held and we are all excited to see these talented hockey players hit the ice. Our three-day selection camp showcased an amazing level of talent from across the province,” said Rick Brant, CEO of I·SPARC. “We are very pleased with our rosters and the strengths of our two teams as they get set to compete in Membertou.”
At the last NAHC, held in Whitehorse, Yukon in 2019, Team BC’s male team came home with a bronze medal. They will kick off the tournament against the North on May 9, then play two games on May 10 against the Eastern Door & North and then the Atlantic, and finish the preliminary round against Saskatchewan on May 11.
In 2019, the female team made it to the bronze medal final but lost to Team Ontario. They will start the NAHC tournament facing-off against Saskatchewan on May 9, then play Eastern Door & North on May 10, and finish the preliminary round with two games on May 10 against Manitoba and the Atlantic.
The quarter-finals take place on May 12, semi-final round on May 13, and bronze and gold medal games on May 14.
To stay up-to-date on the action, follow on Twitter @TeamBCNAHC, Facebook @ISPARC.BC and Instagram @ipsarcTeamBC. For more information on the tournament visit https://nahcmembertou.com/.
| 2022 OFFICIAL TEAM ROSTER
PROVINCE: BC GENDER: MALE |
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| # | Last Name | First Name | Home Community | Pos | 2021/2022 Hockey Club |
| 5 | Alain | Colton | Victoria | D | Pacific Coast Hockey Academy |
| 14 | Andrew | Nathan | Ktunaxa Nation | F | Northern Alberta Tomahawks |
| 22 | Bennett | Tyler | Cranbrook | C | East Kootenay Avalanche |
| 20 | Blace | Wyatt | Squamish Nation | F | Pacific Coast Hockey Academy |
| 16 | Dickie | Peyton | Fort Nelson First Nations | F | Okanagan Hockey Academy |
| 8 | Dumont | Wyatt | Campbell River | D | Campbell River Storm |
| 10 | Flett | Seth | Sucker Creek First Nation | C | Okanagan Hockey Academy |
| 1 | Garbitt | Landon | Horse Lake First Nation | G | Okanagan Hockey Academy |
| 11 | Jameson | Rayne | Upper Similkameen | F | Delta Hockey Academy |
| 21 | Kirkness | Ezekiel | Tataskweyak Cree Nation | F | West Vancouver Hockey Academy |
| 9 | Lige | Kieran | Lax Kw’Alaams / Tsmishian | D | Vancouver NE Chiefs |
| 15 | Maynard | Andon | Osoyoos | C | South Okanagan |
| 6 | McFarlane | Aidan | Surrey | D | Abbotsford Pilots |
| 7 | Mcisaac | Nate | Kelowna | D | Summerland Steam |
| 12 | McRae | Jalen | Upper Nicola Band | F | Thompson Blazers |
| 23 | Menard | Sullivan | Coquitlam | D | Yale Hockey Academy |
| 30 | Moberly | Darian | Chilliwack | G | Delta Hockey Academy |
| 17 | Morash | Tye | Quatsino | F | North Island Silvertips |
| 13 | Nordvie | Rocky | Shishalh Nation | C | Okanagan Hockey Academy |
| 4 | Siemens | Jobie | Bonaparte First Nation | D | Thompson Blazers |
| ALT | Stewart | Tayton | Bonaparte First Nation | G | Okanagan Hockey Academy |
| ALT | Siemens | Ezra | Bonaparte First Nation | D | Thompson Blazers |
| ALT | Taylor | Landen | Doig River First Nation | C | Fort St. John Flyers |
The Male Team BC Staff
Head Coach: Bobby Vermette (Maple Ridge)
Assistant Coach: Doneau Menard (Port Coquitlam)
Assistant Coach: Derry Menard (Coquitlam)
Manager: Tana Mussell (Skwah First Nation, Chilliwack)
Trainer: Christian Mustapich (Vancouver)
| 2022 OFFICIAL TEAM ROSTER
PROVINCE: BC GENDER: FEMALE |
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| # | Last Name | First Name | Home Community | Pos | 2021/2022 Hockey Club |
| 15 | Batch | Madison | Campbell River | D | North Island Impact |
| 2 | Bottle | Jaylah | Tk’emlups te Secwepemc | D | Thompson Okanagan Lakers |
| 14 | Calla | Jacqueline | Squamish Nation | D | Richmond Pacific Steelers |
| 21 | Colebank | Cricket | Hixon | F | Northern Capitals |
| 3 | Dan | Trishanna | Esk’etemc | D | Williams Lake Timberwolves |
| 4 | Walkus | Emma | Gwasala Nakwaxdaxw | D | North Island Impact |
| 20 | John | Kiya | Ts’kw’aylaxw | F | Lillooet Pistons |
| 5 | Johnson | Penelope | Gitanmaax | D | Prince George Capitals |
| 16 | La Fleur – Hammann | Morgan | Dawson Creek | C | Northeast BC Female ‘A’ Predators |
| 17 | McKinnon | Emily | Mid Island Metis Nation | F | Vancouver Island Seals |
| 13 | Moss | Kya | Qalipu M’kmaq | D | Pacific Steelers |
| 1 | Nelson | Alexandra | Snuneymuxw | G | North Vancouver Island Impact |
| 6 | Norkus | Brooke | Prince George | D | Delta Wild |
| 12 | Sadler | Jada | Sechelt Indian Band | D | North Shore Avalanche |
| 19 | Sadler | Janelle | Sechelt Indian Band | F | Pacific Steelers |
| 11 | Sitter | Hailey | Tahltan | D | North Regional Lakers |
| 10 | Snyder | Kaitlyn | Mid-Isle Metis Nation | F | Ontario Hockey Academy Mavericks |
| 18 | Swanton | Charlotte | Metis Nation | F | Shawnigan Lake School Female Prep |
| 30 | Walchuk | Alix | Whitehorse | G | Rink Hockey Academy Kelowna |
| 7 | Wiley | Samantha | Haida Gwai | D | Okanagan Hockey Academy |
| ALT | Menard | Sydney | Coquitlam | D | Tri City Predators |
| ALT | Ignace | Erika | Skeetchestn | D | Kamloops Blazers |
| ALT | Niesh | Madelaine | Gitwinksihlkw | C | Prince George Capitals |
| ALT | Anderson | Tahira | Lower Nicola Indian Band | G | Kamloops Minor Hockey Association |
Female Team BC Staff
Head Coach: Darrel Stanwood (West Vancouver)
Assistant Coach: Megan Price (Victoria)
Assistant Coach: Katy Thorne (Kamloops)
Manager: Brenda Maguire (Whitehorse)
Trainer: Nicholle Auger (Fernie)
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About the National Aboriginal Hockey Championships (NAHC)
The NAHC, founded by the Aboriginal Sport Circle and sanctioned by Hockey Canada, is the premier forum for elite U18 Indigenous hockey players from across Canada. It is the only annual national event that showcases and celebrates the athletic abilities of Indigenous athletes from across the country, and aids in fostering cultural unity and pride. Team BC is represented by two teams, one male team and one female team, featuring the top players from across the province. For more information about the 2022 NAHC, visit https://nahcmembertou.com/.
About the Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity & Recreation Council
The Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity & Recreation Council (I·SPARC) is a provincial organization established for the purpose of improving the health outcomes of Indigenous people by supporting and encouraging physically active individuals, families, and communities. The programs and services delivered by I·SPARC are designed to build capacity and increase access to sport, recreation, and physical activity in First Nations, Aboriginal Friendship Centres, Métis Chartered Communities, schools, and other delivery agencies throughout British Columbia. For more information, about Team BC 2022 NAHC and I·SPARC, please visit: www.teambcnahc.com and www.isparc.ca.
