New minor hockey program ‘fills a big void’ in Behchokǫ̀

More than 110 young people have registered since the Behchokǫ̀ Minor Hockey Association began learn-to-skate sessions last month for children aged five to 15.

Though youth received equipment a few years back, the community hasn’t had an “actual, competitive” program in many years, Chief of Behchokǫ̀ Clifford Daniels said.

“The younger generations, they’re excited for that and possibly, you know, to get the hockey parents back into this program, because I think it’s been like a big void missing for a long time,” said Chief Daniels.

“I know some will take their children to Yellowknife to be part of some other sports programs, but this is, I think, a positive step moving forward.”

The program has received support from residents, instructors, teachers, RCMP and the community’s recreation department.

The launch of a program exploits the availability of the Kǫ Gocho Sportsplex, a recreation centre and arena that opened in 2017 after 10 years without any such facility in Behchokǫ̀.

Until recently, Daniels said, the sportsplex had been underused.

“I think everybody converted, during the 10 years of no recreational facility, into sitting home and more of gaming,” he said.

Mercedes Rabesca, who began volunteering with the recreation department two years ago, took on the recreation manager role in November. Rabesca said she is an example of a resident who grew up without a recreation facility “for almost a decade.”

“As a kid I was just starting hockey – I was probably nine or 10 when the sportsplex shut down. Then, I wasn’t able to participate in the hockey program,” Rabesca told Cabin Radio.

“I didn’t have the opportunity. I’m glad that other kids are able to have the opportunity to even try it out. That’s what my goal is, so they can decide if they like the sport or not, but they can have the option to say, ‘Hey, this isn’t my cup of tea.'”

Rabesca said “lots of parents” had wanted this kind of program and Hockey NWT helped get it off the ground. On Wednesday, participants in Learn to Skate got together for their first practice session.

By the time kids transfer to hockey, they’re “standing up with a hockey stick and getting around the gear, they’re loving it and they’re just so happy,” Rabesca added.

Giovanni Akeson is one of the program’s coaches, with more than a dozen other volunteers lending a helping hand. He said the arena ice wasn’t available until December, which pushed the start of programming to January.

Akeson says many of the volunteers are motivated by “seeing the joy in all these kids and that opportunity they all deserve to have, the opportunity to play.”

“The kids seem like they can be on the ice every day if they have a chance to. We’re trying to support getting them on the ice as much as we can,” he said.

“Having the parents be there and family or guardians, to be able to see how the kids put on the gear and see them on the ice, it was really cool. The parents were super supportive and very helpful.”

Tournament dreams

After speaking with other coaches and volunteers about the progress participants have made so far, Akeson believes Behchokǫ̀ could have a competitive team next year.

The Ontario-based Indigenous Hockey Equipment Drive provided the program with 100 bags of hockey equipment after a volunteer coach reached out to the organization, he said.

“Obviously, hockey is a very expensive sport,” said Akeson, “so we have to make sure we have equipment for kids that need it or want it, making sure we are making it accessible for them.”

Chief Daniels feels the community is becoming a hub for more activities now the sportsplex is adding programming and a new cultural centre has begun holding events. An official opening ceremony for that will be organized in the spring. A major hand games tournament takes place in Behchokǫ̀ this weekend.

“We used to utilize the halls and the gymnasium because we’ve never had other facilities available to us, and that interfered with the recreation activities,” Daniels said.

Daniels believes watching young people take part in minor hockey programming will spark other residents’ interest in getting active, while helping to develop players with the skills needed for future tournaments outside the community.

“As long as there is interest there, I think we’ll keep it going as long as we can,” he said.

“Hopefully it does grow to become bigger, so we can maybe host and then maybe take them out on tournaments.

“As they develop, I think that will be something to look forward to.”