RICHIBUCTO, New Brunswick — For Bryan Trottier, the first word out of his mouth was “yes.”
The Hockey Hall of Famer and six-time Stanley Cup champion with the New York Islanders and Pittsburgh Penguins agreed immediately to travel from Pittsburgh to Imperial Kent North Center in Richibucto, New Brunswick, and skate with Indigenous NHL alumni and players from Elispogtog First Nation. the winner of Kraft Hockeyville 2021.
The hope was for it to be played at Chief Young Eagle Recreation Center, the recipient of $250,000 for upgrades and renovations, until a pipe leak delayed reopening for at least 3-4 months. The goodwill spread was priceless, a scene setter for a community festival Friday and preseason game between the Montreal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators at the JK Irving Center in Bouctouche on Saturday (6:30 pm ET; TVAS).
“We’ve gone through a lot, and I take great pride in our Aboriginal alumni team to be able to participate and represent First Nations people,” Trottier said. “It’s really wonderful how they roll out the red carpet. The fact that they have Hockeyville and the fact that they’re so excited, I think that just adds another layer of pride on this event for us to be a part of this. All of us that have First Nations blood, I think it represents pride, certainly heritage, community and laughter. It’s just joy.”
Like Trottier, Jocelyne Larocque is of Metis heritage. She’s the first Indigenous athlete to play women’s hockey at the Olympics, where as a defenseman helped Canada win gold at the 2014 Sochi and 2022 Beijing Games and silver at Pyeongchang in 2018.
Everett Sanipass was born in Elsipogtog First Nation, played six NHL seasons for the Chicago Blackhawks and Quebec Nordiques, and is the first person of First Nation descent to be inducted into the New Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame. He’s a voice for Indigenous recognition and reconciliation who educates to raise awareness for the greater good of all communities.
Hockeyville Canada 2021 is a platform Sanipass is counting on to take his endeavor to new heights.
“It’s an excellent start,” Sanipass said. “We need to keep building from this, create a working relationship that will promote our community and hopefully work together with local areas because we don’t have a very big area here, so we can’t afford to leave out anybody. I think we’ve been successful so far and I look forward to more of these activities in the future, for sure.”
Trottier has appreciated diversity from an early age, raised in Val Marie, Saskatchewan, by his Irish mother and father of Cree Metis descent. His standing as a Hall of Famer has made him one of the greatest Indigenous players to skate in the NHL. He’s staying for the festival, where he’ll greet more fans and sign autographs.
“It throws a magnifying glass around that community,” Trottier said. “You can feel that energy, that enthusiasm. It brings a dynamic to the community because they’re fired up. Everybody gets involved.”
Larocque is involved with inspiring Indigenous kids to pursue their dreams. She grew up wanting to play in the NHL not knowing women’s hockey existed until it was introduced to the Olympics at the 1998 Nagano Games. It’s when she realized she can play for her country and encourage young girls they can do the same.
“Those ladies on that ’98 Olympic team from every country have no idea what they’ve done for women my age,” Larocque said. “I was this close to TV every single game and I remember looking at my parents saying I want to be there one day, so it’s pretty special. If I could do that even for one kid, I mean, man, that’s what made it a big difference in my life.”
For Larocque, Sanipass and Trottier, Hockeyville has put Indigenous communities in the spotlight that they hope will glow well after the festivities. What will last is community pride. The Hockeyville Canada 2019 winner created a slogan, “We Are Renous.” The tradition continues 1:18 southeast, where one can say, “We Are Elsipogtog First Nation.”
“It’s pretty accurate,” Larocque said. “It’s pretty beautiful and it’s pretty powerful.”
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