Fighting for gold at the 2023 Native Hockey Alberta Provincial Championship Community gold medal match

Sturgeon Lake Blues player preparing to battle against the Maskwacis Hawks Photo credit: Keith Driver

The Alberta Native Provincial Championship wrapped up after a long weekend of men’s and women’s hockey across the Edmonton area. The community final was played at the Tewilleger Community Rec Centre April 9, which saw the tournament underdog Maskwacis Hawks take on the Dominating Sturgeon Lake Blues. Both teams were hungry for a victory and the bragging rights for the best community in native provincial hockey.

The first period saw the Blues having strong puck control, but it was quickly snatched away as the Hawks swooped in for not just one but two goals by the end of the first period.

The Blues started to lose hope as the Hawks found their grove and got another goal in the second period. Tensons started to rise as the Blues were fighting to make it on the board, which they managed to do near the end of the second period, making it a three-one game.

Third period saw tensons between both teams boil over by the ten-minute mark where a brawl broke out in front of the Hawks net and players from both teams were sent to the box. Three minutes later Blues not only lost a player for spearing and misconduct for seven minutes but also, saw Head Coach Pat Gouchey removed from the game.

With the Blues bench raddled, the Hawks seized the opportunity and got another goal making it a 4 – 1 game. The Blues, not giving up got a break away and fired into the top shelf of the Hawks’ net.

The battle ended as the sound of the horn signaled the end of the game with the victory going to the Maskwacis Hawks with the final score 4 – 2.

Windspeaker Radio Network was on the ice with Head Coach of the Hawks Criag Little Child who shared what the victory means for team as a long time contender in the Community Division.

Little Child spoke more on the lessons learned and how the team will be empowering their community back home.

For many of the players on the Hawks bench, it will be their last year at native provincials. Coach Little Child spoke on how the players are moving on to the next chapters of their hockey careers.