Calgary Canucks assist Siksika Minor Hockey

By John Watson Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

An Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) game was hosted at the Deerfoot Sportsplex between the Calgary Canucks and the Brooks Bandits, Nov. 29.

“A partnership was initiated between the President and Chairman of the Calgary Canucks and Chief Crowfoot back in the summertime before the Every Child Matters day in September,” said Richard Running Rabbit, recreation team lead with Siksika Health Services. “We had started to prepare for an event, an AJHL showcase at the Max Bell Arena, which was a hugely successful event in promoting our culture, honouring our elders and spreading awareness.”

As a further commitment from the Calgary Canucks organization, a regular season game was hosted at the Deerfoot Sportsplex with all proceeds going towards the Siksika Minor Hockey Association.

Siksika Health Services has previously hosted hockey games at the Deerfoot Sportsplex featuring the Calgary Hitmen, and are proud to boast their experiences working in partnership with the Calgary Sports Entertainment Corporation (CSEC).

The Nov. 29 game marks the first occasion that AJHL teams have competed at the Deerfoot Sportsplex. 

“This partnership that we have with the Calgary Canucks has its own feel and flavour to it. They are also going to be providing seven camps for Treaty 7 Indigenous youth throughout the year, which we are going to help coordinate with them,” said Running Rabbit. “That is going to be a partnership with Kakatosiiks Association, which is a Blackfoot word for ‘stars.’ They are a non-profit, and they serve Indigenous youth for initiatives like this, along with Siksika Health Services, and the SN7 group, which is a youth peer counselor group. Siksika family service department is also involved.”

Both teams were invited for a cultural showcase and traditional meal following the game, which featured traditional singers, dancers, food and a host of local leadership personnel, the idea being to break down barriers and provide a well-rounded cultural experience.

The Calgary Canucks were ultimately defeated by the Brooks Bandits by the end of the game. 

“What we are hoping to see is a lifelong partnership with the Canucks … this past month, they asked me to be a part of their board, which I gladly accepted, and I attended my first board meeting, Nov. 27,” said Running Rabbit. “These partnerships have helped us to develop and grow as an organization and have strengthened our abilities to be able to host an event like this, and also to work with our neighbours and the surrounding communities.”