Just weeks before the start of the hockey season, Crees have reached a compromise deal with the Abitibi-Témiscamingue Midget AA Hockey League and a team is now being put together to represent the Cree Nation.
“We said we’d try to get a team together this year and play hockey. We’re there,” said Thomas Neeposh, who was one of the first organizers of the Cree Nation team bid.
Last May, a Cree application to join the league was blackballed. After a formal complaint was filed against the league alleging discrimination, an agreement-in- principle has been reached which will allow Crees to play 16 exhibition games this season.
These games do not count in the final league standings. The Cree team also won’t be a member of the league.
Eight of the games will be played in the Cree communities. Neeposh said if there’s enough money, two of the games will be played in Chisasibi, two in Waswanipi and the rest in Mistissini.
Crees have agreed to pay half the travel costs of opposing teams coming into Eeyou Astchee. Initially, Crees had been asked to pay 100 per cent.
The Cree team will also be guaranteed a spot in the provincial championships. Normally, only the top team in each regional league goes to the playoffs.
Also under the deal, the Cree team will play a minimum of five tournaments. Teams in the league normally play a maximum of three tournaments.
“We had to compromise to a certain extent,” acknowledged Neeposh. “But at least we have a foot in the door. We have a chance to prove ourselves.”
Already, requests are coming in for the Cree team to play exhibition games in Lac-St-Jean and Quebec City. The first tournament has already been set— Iroquois Falls, Ont., Nov. 22-24.
The Midget AA team (16 and 17-year-olds) will be chosen at an invitation-only hockey camp on Sept. 14 and 15.
At the same time, a Bantam team (14 and 15-year-olds) will be chosen to represent the Cree Nation. Negotiations are still ongoing to allow the Bantam players to compete against non-Cree teams.
