Call it a hockey hotbed, call it home ice advantage, call it whatever you want, as long as you recognize the Saskatchewan men's and women's National Aboriginal Hockey Championship teams as national gold medalists.
The tournament was held in Saskatoon April 26 to 30 featuring teams from Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Quebec, Ontario, Alberta, B.C. and the Northwest Territories.
Battlefords AAA Sharks head coach Jean Fauchon coached the women's Team Saskatchewan squad and the roster included AAA Sharks Delaney Ross and Taylor Durocher and Battlefords Midget Sharks Jamie Fedler, Shelby Fedler and Jill George.
Saskatchewan skated through round robin undefeated after tying Eastern Door and North (Quebec) 4-4 and Manitoba 2-2. They later turned up the pace and beat Alberta 9-1, B.C. 7-2 and the Northwest Territories 14-1 to capture first place heading into the playoff round. Fauchon said it was the first time in the tournament's history Team Saskatchewan was in first place after the round robin.
In the semi finals, Saskatchewan took on Alberta and won 6-1 to advance to the gold medal game.
In a rematch with Quebec, Saskatchewan came out determined to win their first National Aboriginal Hockey Championship and did so with a 7-3 victory.
Jamie Fedler was selected as the Most Outstanding Player, capping off an amazing weekend by six Sharks who represented Saskatchewan. Saskatchewan out-played their opponents and outscored them 49-14 in seven tournament games.
The men's also captured gold and had some local connections as well. Three Battlefords AAA Stars Colby Daniels, Robin Yew and Regan Yew suited up for Team Saskatchewan as well as Kirk Chief, who played with the Midwest Redwings in the Centre Four Hockey League.
The Redwings played home games in Turtleford, Maidstone, Lashburn and Edam this season.
Team Saskatchewan started the tournament with a convincing 10-1 win over the Northwest Territories and followed that up with a 7-3 win over Quebec on the first day of the tournament.
Saskatchewan went on to beat Ontario 5-2 and tied B.C. 1-1.
In the semi final Saskatchewan beat Ontario 5-2 and advanced to play Quebec in the gold medal game. The final went to overtime and it was Saskatchewan coming away with a 4-3 win.
Saskatchewan dominated the tournament and was undefeated while having eight of the 20 tournament all-stars and both the men's and women's most outstanding players.
"Overall it was probably the most talented, high level calibre of hockey I have witnessed these past ten years," said Jeff Spencer, National Aboriginal Hockey Program chairperson.
