'We need more rinks': Indigenous hockey tournament to welcome 258 teams to Edmonton this weekend
More than 40 First Nations are hitting the ice this week for the 31st annual Native Hockey Alberta Provincial Championships.
Organizers say the tournament has grown so rapidly over the last few years that finding enough ice time for everyone has become a challenge.
Jessica Goodrunning is watching her two sons represent Sunchild First Nation.
"I looked forward to this tournament every year," she said. "It's exciting and I can only imagine how the kids feel."
"It's gotten really big over the past couple years. It definitely made me see how committed we are as indigenous people," Roddy Whitequills of Kainai First Nation said.
Eleven different rinks in Edmonton will host 258 teams from 45 First Nations over the course of the tournament.
"We need more rinks because we don't have enough," Clyde Goodswimmer, president of Native Hockey Alberta, told CTV News Edmonton. "The city can't supply enough to host all of us."
Goodswimmer says nobody was left out this year, but Sunday's slate of championship games will be taking place concurrently rather than staggered like previous years.
"We try to accommodate all the players and all the athletes," he said "I believe there's close to 4,000 or 5,000 coaches and players that are involved, so it's pretty massive."
Kenyin Bigchild from O’Chiese First Nation near Rocky Mountain House is in his 11th year playing in the tournament..
"When I was younger, it didn’t seem like such a big thing, but as I grew up and started noticing more, everybody comes from everywhere, there’s all age groups," he said. "There’s also lots of new Métis players, so we're getting more of those every year."
The tournament will play out through 630 games over four days, with the action concluding on Sunday.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. serial killer Robert Pickton dead following prison attack
Convicted B.C. serial killer Robert Pickton, who preyed on women he lured from Vancouver's Downtown Eastside to his rural pig farm, has died.
'We will go with the majority': Liberals slammed by opposition over proposal to delay next election
The federal Liberal government learned Friday it might have to retreat on a proposal within its electoral reform legislation to delay the next vote by one week, after all opposition parties came out to say they can't support it.
Ex-husband charged with murder in death of Lumby, B.C., woman
The ex-husband of Tatjana Stefanski – the woman whose disappearance and death set the small town of Lumby, B.C., on edge last month – has been charged with her murder.
Oilers beat Stars, one win away from Stanley Cup berth
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored two power-play goals as Edmonton smothered the Dallas Stars 3-1 to take a 3-2 lead in the NHL's Western Conference final on Friday.
Baby dead after being delivered via emergency C-section to woman who was in police custody
A newborn is dead after being delivered via emergency C-section to a woman in police custody.
Jennifer Lopez cancels summer tour: 'I am completely heartsick and devastated'
Jennifer Lopez has cancelled her 2024 North American tour, representatives for Live Nation confirmed to The Associated Press.
This Calgary home has a giant tree in the middle, and it's for sale
There's a luxury 'tree home' for sale in Calgary.
DND moving 1,000 employees out of Ottawa office building due to safety concerns
The Department of National Defence is moving approximately 1,000 employees out of an office building in Ottawa's Lowertown neighbourhood, citing safety concerns for its employees.
Man convicted of killing Toronto cop in 1980 granted day parole
A man convicted of murdering a Toronto police officer more than four decades ago has been granted day parole for six months.