Aboriginal hockey teams hit the ice in Manitoba tournament

A record number of aboriginal hockey teams from across the province will compete in the 28th annual Aboriginal Minor Hockey Tournament this weekend at the MTS Iceplex.

This year there are 73 teams registered to play, up from 57 last year — the most the tournament has ever hosted. The tournament is put on by the Manitoba Indigenous Cultural Education Centre every year and draws teams from as far away as Cross Lake and Norway House.

This year is the first year the tournament has a girls’ division, with five bantam girls’ teams registered. Girls played in previous years on the same teams as boys, and many teams are mixed this year as well.

The players range in age and skill levels. There are 1,095 players from 12 different communities across Manitoba.