Hockey great Hayley Wickenheiser addresses Little NHL participants

Madison Maness, a 12-year-old girl from Aamjiwnaang First Nation in southwestern Ontario, was among about 60 female participants from this year’s Little NHL hockey tournament invited to Scotiabank Arena in Toronto on March 11 for a special event.

The festivities sponsored by Esso, aimed at encouraging young Indigenous athletes to dream big, included a keynote address by Hayley Wickenheiser, arguably the best Canadian women’s hockey player.

During the 23 seasons she was a member of the national team, Wickenheiser won five Olympic medals (four of them gold) and 13 medals (seven gold and six silver) at world championships. Besides becoming a doctor, Wickenheiser is also currently an assistant general manager for the Toronto Maple Leafs NHL team.

“It’s really cool,” Maness said after listening to Wickenheiser’s speech. “I really look up to her.”

Maness and the other Indigenous players were bused down to Scotiabank Arena from Markham, Ont. where the majority of the Little NHL games were contested this week.

The 51st annual tournament began on March 9 running to March 13. A record 270 clubs participated, which has become the largest Indigenous youth hockey tournament in the province.

Besides hearing words of encouragement from Wickenheiser, those at the Scotiabank Arena event were provided with tours of the Maple Leafs’ and the Toronto Raptors professional basketball team’s dressing rooms.

There was also a photo booth area where each participant had a hockey card designed. And they took part in energetic activities on the Raptors’ playing court.

“I’ve never actually seen the Raptors’ court,” Maness said. “I’ve only seen (the Maple Leafs) play. So, this is like really, really, really cool. I’m really excited.”

Wickenheiser had praise for organizers of the Little NHL tournament. She was especially pleased to hear that a record 48 girls’ teams entered in the 2025 tourney.

“What they're doing to raise the profile and also lift girls up in these communities across Canada is super important,” she said. “I went to the event last year in Markham and they do a great job. It's a big festival of the game and it's maybe the best kept secret in Canadian hockey.”

Wickenheiser believes more and more Indigenous players will be advancing to the highest levels of the sport.

The Professional Women’s Hockey League currently includes several Indigenous players, Jocelyne Larocque and Victoria Bach, who are members of the Ottawa Charge, Kelly Babstock and Jamie Lee Rattray, who are on the Boston Fleet roster, and Abby Roque of the New York Sirens.

Wickenheiser said resources are in place to assist young Indigenous players.

“It’s about opportunity, getting these girls exposed at a young age,” she said. “We know that a lot of their communities have arenas. Ice time is just giving them the confidence to want to pursue hockey as a dream. And I think having them see these other Indigenous players that are leading the way is something that you can't put any price tag on.”

Wickenheiser said times have certainly changed. When she was growing up it would always be males who would be the ones offering encouragement to young players at special gatherings.

“I don’t think I was at an event with a female hockey player maybe until I was on the national team when I was 15 years old,” she said.

Wickenheiser realizes the event she headlined would no doubt be memorable for participants.

“I think it’s just got to be so cool,” she said. “I can’t imagine coming to Scotiabank Arena, the church of hockey, and just walking in and this event is totally for you. They should feel really special.”

Kalley Armstrong, the granddaughter of the late George Armstrong, an Indigenous player who was the captain of the Maple Leafs when they last won the Stanley Cup in 1967, also attended the March 11 event.

She played at Harvard University, graduating in 2015, and currently works for the Maple Leafs’ office operations as a management and coaching development associate.

Armstrong also coached an Under-13 girls’ team at this year’s Little NHL.

“I'm sure all these girls are exhausted,” she said of the participants at the Scotiabank Arena event. “And the fact that they all showed up here is really impressive because they had a full day of hockey games and just going back and forth rink to rink to probably watch your cousins and your siblings can be tiring. So, the fact that these girls showed up today is really impressive.”

Armstrong said it was undoubtedly a huge moment for participants to meet Wickenheiser.

“She’s such a representation of female power,” Armstrong said. “She's accomplished so much in her life.

“And so, for these girls to be able to look up to someone like Hayley, I think is incredible. Girls can realize you can achieve your dreams just outside of being a hockey player, you look at Hayley, she's a GM for the Toronto Maple Leafs. And that's pretty incredible.”

Local Journalism Initiative Reporters are supported by a financial contribution made by the Government of Canada.