BC HOCKEY AWARDS: INDIGENOUS IMPACT AND LEGACY AWARD - YUKON NATIVE HOCKEY TOURNAMENT
By MARIO ANNICCHIARICO
Set to celebrate its 50th year of existence next season, the Yukon Native Hockey Tournament has been recognized as BC Hockey’s Indigenous Impact and Legacy Award winner for the 2025-26 campaign.
The annual award acknowledges an individual, team, league or association that has brought an outstanding level of commitment to increase Indigenous inclusivity and participation in the game of hockey.
The Yukon Native Hockey Tournament - held annually in Whitehorse - has become one of the most significant Indigenous hockey events in Canada, bringing together First Nations participants from B.C., Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut for 46 years. Covid forced the postponement for three seasons.
Sarah Krengnetak at the Kilrich Yukon Native Hockey Tournament awards ceremony as the 2025 winner of the Harry Allen"SAMAY THIA" Memorial Leadership Award
The event features teams across multiple age groups and skill levels, including the addition of a female division. Aside from the on-ice competition, the tournament also celebrates culture through traditional performances, community gatherings and shared experiences.
Its deep cultural roots have created a lasting legacy that continues to strengthen Indigenous connection, pride, and community through the game of hockey.
“A lot of great people do a lot of hard work on this tournament and it’s amazing that we’re receiving this award,” tournament president Rick McLean said of the event that features teams in the U13, U15, U18, senior, old-timers’ and women’s divisions.
Hand games with Indigenous youth during at a youth event during the 2025 Kilrich Yukon Native Hockey Tournament.
But it’s much more than just hockey – it’s a celebration of culture.
“We spend a lot of time bringing communities and families together, not only to compete, but to celebrate and intermingle with one another,” said McLean. “Old friends, from years past, gather. It's about inclusion and culture; ceremony; community pride; youth development; and carrying forward a legacy that has been built by generations of players, organizers, volunteers, families and supporters for a long time.”
McLean, himself, first became involved in the late 1980s as a player before moving into the administration of the tournament.
“I played until my body said I can't play any more, so I volunteered for a few years and then was elected to the board. This is my first year as president of the board of directors and we take a lot of pride in running the tournament,” he said.
“We’re following the footsteps of the moccasins of those leaders who put it in place a long time ago and that gives us the energy and the commitment to make sure that we continue to host a classic tournament every year. We want to make sure that we continue that legacy of many, many great leaders in the past.”
The tournament is usually held in March and draws hundreds of competitors and visitors.
“We try to keep it consistent so that people can make their plans. This is a big trip - there are a lot of teams coming from across the North. They not only come to play hockey, but they come to do shopping and a lot of other stuff, so the community of Whitehorse really has a very large economic benefit. You know, for a lot of companies and businesses in the community, they rely on it to make their year,” said McLean.
The tournament itself is played indoors on three sheets of ice and features opening and closing ceremonies throughout the weekend.
Conway Kootney, Indigenous youth mentor and comedian known as “Smudge Pan” greets Indigenous youth players during the Opening Ceremonies of the Kilrich Yukon Native Hockey Tournament.
“We love to include different aspects to the tournament, right from the opening ceremony to the closing ceremony, with the drumming and the dancing. The teams are also drummed in for their medals,” McLean said of the uniqueness of the tournament. “Last year we actually had the Stanley Cup come up, bringing it in by dogsled.”
Stanley Cup champion Andrew Ference, who now works as the director of Social Impact, Growth and Fan Development for the National Hockey League, held the trophy while being a passenger on the dogsled.
“We continue to look for unique things to do and that was a way of honouring the 1905 Dawson City team that competed for the cup,” said McLean.
The Dawson City Nuggets famously travelled by dogsled, boat and train to challenge for the Stanley Cup that season in Ottawa.
“We like to come up with cool things like that, which adds to the tournament and continues to make it special and continue to develop and build on what's been built before,” stressed McLean.
While this award recognizes the impact of the Yukon Native Hockey Tournament, it also provides an opportunity to reflect on the many people and moments that have shaped its history. Above all, it serves as a reminder of the important role sport plays in bringing communities together and creating memories that last a lifetime.