Why not an aboriginal hockey team at the Olympics? – Toronto Star
The aboriginals of North America have the talent to form a men’s hockey team of the highest level and by rights should be represented at the Olympics.
Feb 13 2014
John Chabot, former National Hockey League player and citizen of the Algonquin nation, has an idea whose time has come. He believes the indigenous nations of North America have the talent to form a men’s hockey team capable of playing on the international level and by rights should be represented at the Olympic Games.
Currently, the NHL has a number of native players who could form the nucleus of such a team and would immediately prove to be highly competitive. Players like Carey Price of the Montreal Canadiens, Cody McCormick of the Buffalo Sabres, Jordan Nolan of the Los Angeles Kings and his teammate Dwight King. There is also René Bourque of the Canadiens, Sheldon Souray of the Anaheim Ducks and Jordin Tootoo of the Detroit Red Wings. Add to this Wade Redden, Chris Simon, Jonathan Cheechoo, then include a number of excellent minor league and college players and you get an all-aboriginal team with the talent to skate with any other nation.
That a native nation has the standing to be represented at the Olympics has already been established. In 1904 the Mohawk Nation sent a men’s lacrosse team to the Games in St. Louis, Missouri. Lacrosse was discontinued as an Olympic sport after 1908, but exhibition games were held at the 1932 Games in Los Angeles where the Iroquois fielded an all-star team. My uncle, Angus “Shine” George was on that team.
Read more: http://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2014/02/13/why_not_an_aboriginal_hockey_team_at_the_olympics.html
