A gathering of our nations’: Little NHL celebrates 50 years – BradfordToday.ca

Mar 11, 2024
The March break tradition has grown from humble beginnings into the largest hockey tournament for First Nations youth in Ontario

Larry Cachagee fondly recalls how proud he and his young teammates were to lace up the skates for the Garden River Braves during the first few years of the Little NHL Tournament.

Cachagee was just 11 years old when he took part in the very first tournament, which was held in 1971 with just 17 teams and 200 players taking part. Now on the cusp of celebrating its 50th anniversary, the annual March break tradition has since become the largest hockey tournament for First Nations youth in Ontario.

“That’s one thing I looked forward to every March break, because I knew that tournament was coming up,” said Cachagee. “It was a good hockey tournament with good hockey, and representing Garden River was an honour, you know?”