P.A.'s Sasha Malenfant (left) and Owen Nelson are in this year's National Aboriginal Hockey Championships. (Submitted Photos)

By Derek Craddock

BEST IN SASK.

P.A. and area players begin National Aboriginal Hockey Championships

May 6, 2024 | 2:00 PM

The top young Indigenous hockey players from across Canada have started their quest to be named the best in the country with some local athletes skating for the title.

The 2024 National Aboriginal Hockey Championships began Monday morning in Grande Prairie, Alta with seven provincial teams facing off, including Team Saskatchewan.

That talented roster features nearly 50 players with several hailing from Prince Albert and surrounding areas.

On the women’s side, Sasha Malenfant, who competed last season with the Notre Dame Hounds joins the roster with fellow P.A. players Jordyn Fidler and Nikita Krayetski from the Mann-Northway Northern Bears.

Two other Bears players are also on the team: Bree Purcell of Unity and Kinley Brassard of Saskatoon.

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Tayen Sumlic of Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation is also suiting up for Team Saskatchewan.

On the men’s side, Waylon and Lawson Gardipy of Beardy’s & Okemasis Cree Nation will hit the ice for Saskatchewan with Dayne and Josh Henry of Prince Albert, who played for the Mintos last season.

Other members of the P.A. Mintos are on the team, including local player Owen Nelson and Spiritwood’s Konnor Watson.

The northern community of Stanley Mission is also represented with Darryl McKenzie of the Indigenous Sports Academy on the roster.

In the 2023 championships in Winnipeg, the Saskatchewan men’s team finished fourth after losing 6-2 to B.C. in the bronze medal game, while the women’s team finished fifth.

Team Saskatchewan plays its first game of the 2024 tournament against Ontario on Monday night with the playoffs starting on Thursday.

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derek.craddock@pattisonmedia.com