Yukon youth had the chance to meet mentors, coaches, influencers and players involved with 45th annual Kilrich Yukon Native Hockey Tournament at Whitehorse's Mt. McIntyre Centre on Saturday, March 22.
The Yukon First Nations Hockey Association (YFNHA) hosted the youth meet-and-greet for the first time in the tournament’s history, according to event coordinator Rick McLean.
Former Edmonton Oilers captain Andrew Ference attended the event and later competed against LJ’s Sabres in the tournament finals while playing for the Selkirk Bears. Rachel Weibe, a coach for the University of Alberta’s Pandas hockey team, also attended the meet-and-greet to share insights and her experiences as a hockey coach to young female athletes.
“In 20 years, I won't remember the wins or losses, but I'll remember the people I met, the opening ceremonies and the stories. Kids will remember time with their families and new friends. That's the special impact of sports, especially hockey in Canada and this part of the world," Ference said.
Weibe emphasized the importance of visibility and representation in youth hockey, especially for women in remote communities. She hoped to inspire young athletes by sharing her experience in the NHL coaches development program having come from a northern community in rural Alberta.
“I've met a few people in the community that have shared their stories, similar stories to mine and we've been really able to connect over that which has been so impactful. That's truly the highlight of me, to be able to connect with people, provide some comfort in the way that you can still be involved in the sport and take it to the next level, even through injury and adversity,” Weibe said.
The YFNHA hosted the afternoon event, which included hand games and an opportunity to meet and speak with a larger group of people from the hockey community. Harlen Kingfisher, who runs a community-focused hockey apparel store, attended the meet-and-greet to inspire youth and share stories about the native hockey community.
“Everyone that got invited to the youth meet-and-greet is doing something, you know, in the social media world. We're trying to showcase indigenous hockey on our own platforms, so there are singers, and you know Andrew Ference is here, and I think it’s cool for the youth that don't normally get to see people like that and you know they come here and hear their stories, come talk to us and see maybe if that’s something they want to do in the future,” Kingfisher said.
Conway Kootenay, the creator of a hockey-playing social media character that humorously highlights hockey clichés with a nod to the movie "Slap Shot," also attended the meet-and-greet. Kootenay’s character, Smudge Pan, currently has 44,000 Facebook followers and features skits, with recent content showcasing the character at the Kilrich Yukon Native Hockey Tournament.
Contact Jake Howarth at jake.howarth@yukon-news.com
