The Sunchild Law Eagles consist of youth from several communities. (submitted photo/Eleanore Sunchild)

By Derek Cornet

accomplishment

Northern youth returns with silver medal from Toronto hockey tournament

Aug 9, 2019 | 5:17 PM

Nicholas Charles of the Lac La Ronge Indian Band is back home after an intense hockey tournament called King of the Rings in Toronto.

In all, more than 250 teams from around the world competed at the event, which occurred Aug. 2 to 4 and consisted of ‘A’ and ‘AA’ squads. Charles, 10, was invited to play on the Sunchild Law Eagles, who finished with silver medals after losing 5-0 against a team from Chicago. Overall, the Eagles played five games and Team Manager Eleanore Sunchild stated she was proud of their performance.

“It’s a team of boys who really love hockey and are committed to playing hockey in the summer, which isn’t always easy when it’s 30 C outside and you have to go to the rink and be cold,” she said. “They did really well together. All the players haven’t played together before. Some of them have and some of them haven’t.”

Sunchild mentioned the team is sponsored by her firm Sunchild Law based in Battleford and it was launched about four years ago with fellow lawyer Ruby Sinclair from Flying Dust First Nation. Throughout the years, Sunchild kept entering teams into tournaments that included her son and a mix of Indigenous and non-Indigenous players. Overall, 14 players travelled to Toronto earlier this month and they came from communities such as Battleford, Flying Dust, Onion Lake Cree Nation, Thunderchild First Nation and Meadow Lake.

“To put a team of young boys together who haven’t played much together in the past and win a silver medal is very good,” she said.

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For Charles, it was his first time ever travelling so far for a tournament and he said it was fun because he got to make new friends. He has been playing hockey for about five years and is currently a member of the La Ronge 89ers Peewee team.

Kristen Charles and her son Nicholas. (submitted photo/Kristen Charles)

His mother Kristen Charles travelled with him to the competition and she added it was more than just hockey. She said players got to build relationships by visiting places like Niagara Falls and Canada’s Wonderland as well.

“I’m really thankful we had the opportunity to go and be part of such an amazing team,” Charles said. “It was definitely an opportunity for him he won’t forget. He made lots of memories and he made a few more friends than he might have expected.”

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derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno