Hall of Fame (Little Native Hockey League)

PrintHall of Fame
 Alumni of the Little NHL
Alumni are former hockey players who participated in the Little NHL and have advanced to play hockey at a higher calibre.  Furthermore, Alumni members have been instrumental in advocating hockey development in their communities and continue to support participation in the Little NHL Tournament.

 35th Anniversary - 2006
Barry Hawk Tabobondung
Gerard Peltier
Ted Nolan

 40th Anniversary - 2011
Kathryn Corbiere
Dave Avery
Johnaton Cheechoo

45th Anniversary – 2016
Maryanne Menefee
Kelly Babstock
Mervin Cheechoo
Chris Simon

Builders of the Little NHL
Builders' of the Little NHL have been instrumental, as past or present executive members, community level advocates and tireless volunteers of the Little NHL thus promoting the game of hockey.  These individuals advocated for community participation at the Little NHL and worked collaboratively to make participating in the Little NHL a memorable experience.

 35th Anniversary - 2006
Founding-Father Earl Abotossaway
Founding-Father James D. Debassige
Founding-Father James McGregor
Founding Father Norman Debassige
Founding -Father Rev. Len Self
Fred McLeod
Paul M. Williams
Tom Nolan

 40th Anniversary - 2011
David Enosse
George Francis
Henry Shawanda
Margaret Shawanda
Patrick Madahbee

45th Anniversary -  2016
Arnold Gardiner
Bobby Gardiner
Dan Koosees
Elizabeth Debassige
Georgina McGregor
Lloyd McGregor
Mike ‘Zeek’ Hill
Pauline Debassige
Robert Restoule
Violet McGregor
Wellington Williams

Friends of the Little NHL
Friends' of the LNHL are ‎individuals, businesses or corporations that have provided long time sponsorship to the LNHL. As Friends of the LNHL, their financial contributions have helped showcase a 'one-of-a-kind' hockey tournament based on the four pillars of education, citizenship, sportsmanship and respect.

40th Anniversary - 2011
Dreamcatcher Fund
Ontario First Nations Ltd. Partnership
Royal Bank Canada

45th Anniversary – 2016
Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs
Peace Hills Trust
Stan Johnaton

Indigenous Awareness Month- 2021
Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment
Toronto Maple Leafs Organization


MESSAGE FROM FOUNDING FATHER JAMES MCGREGOR AT 35TH GALA CELEBRATION
Ahnii and welcome to the 35th Annual Little Native Hockey League Tournament. It is with great pride that we celebrate the spectacular history of our tournament.

35 years ago, this tournament was started by five very special people who originally wanted to start a tournament for our First Nation Youth. These people were Reverend Len Self, Earl Abotossaway, former Chief Jim Debassige, Norm Debassige and former Chief Jim McGregor. They decided to hold the first tournament at Christmas of 1971.

It is a great honour for all of us to keep up the tradition of the L’NHL tournament started by these very special individuals. The first tournament had 17 teams and a modest 200 players in Little Current and today the tournament has grown to over 110 teams and over 2000 players.

Many communities have hosted the tournament over the 35 year history. Communities such as Whitefish River, Aundeck Omni Kaning, M’Chigeeng, Wikwemikong, Sagamok, Garden River, Nipissing, Wausauksing, Dokis, Saugeen, Walpole Island, Curve Lake, Whitefish Lake, Six Nations, and Fort William to name some of the communities.

Many of our former L’NHL’ers have gone on to various levels of Hockey excellence with “AA”, “AAA”, Tier II, Junior B, College/University, OHL and NHL level of play.

The calibre of Player gets better with each passing year, while the spirit and intent of the tournament created by the founders remains the same. “It’s not if you win or lose, but how much you tried and how fairly you played.

- Former Chief James McGregor



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