MANITOBA — The 2023 NAHC will take place May 7-13 at Seven Oaks Arena in Winnipeg, MB, and already, Alberta is gearing up its roster.
The Aboriginal Sport Circle established the National Aboriginal Hockey Championships (NAHC) in 2002 to serve as the premiere competition for young Indigenous hockey players in Canada.
The annual event provides a forum for elite U15/ U18 aged Indigenous male and female youth and attracts participation from First Nation, Inuit and Metis across the 13 provinces and territories. The event returns again after the Covid-19 pandemic and is hoped to help foster cultural unity and pride to celebrate the athletic abilities of Indigenous players from across the country. The NAHC also serves as a focal point for grassroots and regional Indigenous hockey development.
One team in particular has already completed a selection process. Hockey Alberta, in partnership with the Indigenous Sport Council of Alberta, oversaw and coordinating the selection process for the players and coaches representing the province at the championships.
Bench staff and a roster were announced on November 1, after players attended the selection camp in August in Red Deer at the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre. The top 36 athletes were shortlisted for a camp on September 25.
Last year, the Team Ontario NAHC roster earned silver after a thrilling game against Team Manitoba, hosted in Nova Scotia.