The MJHL Celebrated its strong Indigenous routes for National Indigenous Day Yesterday. The league celebrated its rich history of coaches, player’s management, and staff that have been a key part of the success of the league.
The league has had countless indigenous alumni succeed within the league and graduate to the NHL level from First Nations, Métis, and Inuit backgrounds.
Most recently highlights from local Brady Keeper who played with the OCN Blizzard and earned an NHL contract with the Florida Panthers after only two college seasons with the University of Maine.
The MJHL has two clubs in First Nations communities, both operating for over 20 years. The OCN Blizzard, founded in 1996, and the Waywayseecappo Wolverines, founded in 1999. Both teams often carry Indigenous players and staff.
Bryden Sinclair of Peguis First Nation was named Captain of the OCN Blizzard on June 11th for the 2021-2022 season and has already committed to play NCAA Division Hockey at the University of Maine in the future.
Another former OCN Blizzard player, Tony Apetagon now plays for the University of Manitoba Bisons. Tony spent a brief time as an assistant coach during the beginning of the shortened 2020-2021 season.
Several MJHL prospects represent Manitoba at the National Aboriginal Hockey Championships on a yearly basis, winning gold during the 2017 and 2019 games.
Throughout each season the MJHL and its member clubs acknowledge that they compete on Treaty 1, Treaty 2, Treaty 4, and Treaty 5 lands, collectively the traditional territories of Anishinaabe, Assiniboine, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota, Dene, and Inninnowuk peoples, and the homeland of the Métis Nation.
