The seniors will battle the juniors on the ice as Onion Lake plays host to the Fred Sasakamoose trophy for an exhibition game Friday November 5th.
The event billed as Hockey Night in OL will welcome the Fred Sasakamoose trophy named in honour of the first Canadian Indigenous player to lace up in the NHL. Sasakamoose played for the Chicago Black Hawks in the 1953-54 season.
The trophy was won in August by the Canoe Lake Young Guns in Saskatoon. Denise Waskewitch whose son plays on that team is an organizer for Friday’s hockey night.
“The Fred Sasakamoose tournament is the Indian NHL is what they call it, the team that won it is the Canoe Lake Young Guns and my son who is a Canoe Lake band member was part of that tournament; winning. Since we have Freddy and to us it’s the highest honour to have the trophy, because it’s like the Stanley Cup for us.”
Waskewitch notes even though Friday’s exhibition game between the senior and junior Border Chiefs is free, the rivalry will be intense.
“I think it’s going to be a very exciting game. I know a couple of the young guys said they want to play with the juniors. A couple of the seniors said they don’t want to play because the juniors will outskate them. So it’s going to be a fun game.”
COVID protocols will be in place on Friday night at the Onion Lake Arena. Puck drop is 7:30 p.m.