The 2024 Women's Division champion, Red Pheasant Lady Rebels. (Facebook/Fred Sasakamoose "Chief Thunderstick" National Hockey Championship)

By Martin Martinson

Fred Sasakamoose Tournament

Red Pheasant Lady Rebels win Chief Thunderstick National Hockey Championship

May 21, 2024 | 5:56 PM

The Red Pheasant Lady Rebels recently took home the Women’s Division championship at the recent Fred Sasakamoose “Chief Thunderstick” National Hockey Championship in Saskatoon.

Seemingly a team of destiny, the Lady Rebels would take home back-to-back double-overtime wins on their way to the championship, topping the One Nation Thunder 1-0 in the semis, and Alberta Thunderbirds 2-1 in the final, each in the second period of sudden-death on their road to the title, in just their second year of competition at the tournament.

After scoring the winner in the semis, Sophie Grawbarger also notched the tying goal in the final minute of the finals, to set the table for the OT winner by Erin Denny of Eskasoni New Brunswick, on a slap shot to bring the fans to their feet in thunderous applause with the ‘golden goal’ for the Lady Rebels.

“She never quit skating, and I had a lot of confidence in her to do something special in the final, and low and behold she got a nice pass from Alex Spence on the power play and was able to fire a slap shot home,” head coach, Sheldon Wuttunee recalled of the winning play.

“I’d just really like to acknowledge Erin Denny because they did bring a team from Atlantic Canada this year, where she’s from, and just from how much she enjoyed playing for Red Pheasant last year, she made the decision to stick with us for the tournament, so it really meant a lot to her and myself that she was able to score the tournament winner.”

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The clutch finish for the Lady Rebels came following a dominant start to the tournament, which saw Red Pheasant turn heads opening day with back-to-back 7-0 victories over the Northest Wildcats and Treaty Six Territory Braves, followed by a 2-0 win over the La Ronge Lady9ers foreshadowing their ability to lock it down in the tighter games as well.

From there, the team secured another decisive 5-0 win over the Treaty 4 Ladies, and 7-0 final over the Atlantic Lady Hawks to punch their ticket to the semis where the overtime heroics could unfold.

Featuring top women’s hockey talent from across the country, the Red Pheasant Lady Rebels were led by Tournament MVP, Alexa Ranahan (from Salmon Arm, BC) and Top Defenceman Jacquelyne Chief (of Onion Lake) on the blue line, with lights out goaltending provided by Tournament Top Goaltender, Scout Anderson (from Saskatoon).

“We were really fortunate for players to commit to our team, and we had a really good mix of older well-established girls and some young girls,” Wuttunee said. “Just being able to compete at a high-caliber tournament for Indigenous women from right across the country provides great excitement, and even more importantly, allows our young girls to see role models from their own communities playing in a tournament like that which is really special.

“I’ve been able to know and work alongside the late Fred Sasakamoose and his son for many years, so having the opportunity to win their tournament on the women’s side is something really special to our First Nation and definitely our family.”

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Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1