Little NHL tournament to feature record number of participating teams

Organizers of the Little Native Hockey League tournament will once again have an important reason to celebrate this year.

Last March, the tournament which is often simply called the Little NHL, staged its 50th anniversary.

A record number of 245 clubs participated in that event, which was primarily held in the Ontario city of Markham, located just north of Toronto.

Another record will be established this year. That’s because a total of 276 squads have registered for the tourney, which will be staged Mar. 9-13.

The majority of the games will once again be held at rinks throughout Markham. Arenas in nearby Stouffville will also be utilized for some matches.

“It’s pretty amazing,” Chico Ralf, the president of the Little NHL executive said of this year’s number of entrants. “I never, in my own thoughts and dreams, thought it would get to be this big.”

The Little NHL has become the largest Indigenous youth hockey tournament in Ontario.

“I view the 51st tournament being the beginning of the next 50 years,” Ralf added.

The Little NHL was first held in 1971 in the Manitoulin Island town of Little Current. That event featured 17 clubs.

The tournament has been held annually since, except for the years 2020 through 2022 when it was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Though many small towns hosted the tournament in its early years, once the event began to grow organizers were forced to move to larger centres, in part because many arenas were required to host all the games.

The tournament also had to be in a city large enough to have hotels and restaurants in the vicinity to accommodate all the out-of-town participants as well as their families and supporters who attend.

The Little NHL executive hosted last year’s milestone anniversary of the tournament. But in other years a First Nation within the province is awarded hosting rights, even if its community is not located near the host site.

The 2025 tournament will be hosted by the Chippewas Tri-Council, which is made up of three First Nations. They are Chippewas of Rama First Nation, Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nation and Beausoleil First Nation.

Ralf is not surprised to see host preparations are running smoothly thus far.

“They work closely together throughout the year,” he said of those First Nations that have joined forces to put on the March tournament.

Ralf added he’s thrilled the event continues to grow.

“I didn’t think it would get quite this big,” he said. “But I’m just glad our people are getting the opportunity to play the game they love.”

A total of 15 divisions will be contested at this year’s event. There are both recreational and competitive groupings.

For starters, there is a co-ed Under 7 division. The oldest players eligible for the tourney are in the Under 18 groups, both female and male.

Ralf said the age divisions with the most teams are Under 7 and Under 9. But he’s ecstatic the Under 15 and Under 18 categories have a plethora of entrants.

“To me that’s a positive,” he said. “What I’ve seen over the years is that at those ages they move on to other activities and don’t play hockey anymore. I’m just happy that those divisions have high numbers.”

Ralf said some First Nations in the province will be sending squads to the Little NHL for the first time.

“It’s amazing to me because every time there’s a new community it means we’re reaching out further in Ontario,” he said.

The opening ceremonies for this year’s tournament will be held on Mar. 9 at the Angus Glen Community Centre.

Ralf said details for the opening ceremony have yet to be finalized.

“They’re still planning some special events,” he said.

Games will be held Mar. 10-13.

The tournament is traditionally held during March Break in Ontario so participants do not have to miss any school to take part.

Several former National Hockey League players who are Indigenous often show up to the tourney to offer their support. The list of those who will be in attendance this year has yet to be released.

Ralf added players and those in management roles from the Professional Women’s Hockey League, as well as some Team Canada women’s alumni, will also be at this year’s event.