A Lost History

The origin of hockey and its relationship to the Indigenous peoples of Canada is not exactly a recent discovery; quite a bit of this history was passed down through generations via oral communication and storytelling depicting hockey and similar games being played and enjoyed. Unfortunately, the erasure of much of this history occurred through colonialism, whitewashing, classism, segregation, and the historical European emphasis on written history weighing more than oral storytelling.

The specific origins may be a bit hazy, but most recent historians agree on the same or a similar concept: the first instance of “hockey” was likely in the 1600s in Nova Scotia, when European settlers observed Mi’kmaq people (pronounced “mig-mahk” with a very soft “k” sound, singular “Mi’kmaw”) playing a hockey-like game. At the time, this game was referred to as “Ricket” in newspapers, and it was played in a field with wooden sticks and a ball (accounts of this early “puck” having been frozen road apples, cherrywood, and rubber once the settlers imported the material). To the Mi’kmaq, this game was Oochamkunutk.

Road to a Game on Ice

It is suggested that the game was developed with elements from a game called Duwarken, meaning “ball played on ice.” As described by Indigenous scholar, Dr. Jerry Lonecloud, this was a traditional Mi’kmaw game involving elements very similar to what we know now as hockey and even baseball.

In the Mi’kmaw language, Oochamkunutk refers to ball games played on the field and ice, and these games eventually merged with the European game, Hurling, into the next game: “Hurley on Ice.” After Hurley came Alchamadijik, which was a term the Mi’kmaq used to describe people playing the hockey we know today. The Mi’kmaq can also be credited as some of the first to construct hockey sticks, at the time anglicized as the “Mic-Mac hockey stick.” These sticks are hard to come by, with very few written accounts and surviving sticks dating back to the mid-1600s.

This is all a very simple account of what we know about the development of hockey, since much of our recorded history before centred around the early Original Six hockey teams. Sadly, our lack of information is largely due to colonialism and the mass erasure of Aboriginal culture.

Carey Price

Carey Price is very proud of his Nuxalk and Dakelh heritage. Born in Vancouver, BC, he moved to Anahim Lake, BC and had to drive about five hours out to and five hours back from Williams Lake three times a week just to play hockey. His dad, an ex-professional goaltender himself, eventually bought a small plane so they could fly instead of drive. Price’s mother, Lynda Price, is the current chief of the Ulkatcho First Nation and was the first woman to be elected to the Union of BC Indian Chiefs board of directors.

Price is a highly renowned goaltender in the NHL, with an extensive career with the Montreal Canadiens, multiple years in the WHL and AHL, as well as some championship wins on the international stage. He was also the first Indigenous goaltender to win the Vezina Trophy, and the first goalie overall to win the Hart Trophy, Vezina Trophy, and Ted Lindsay Award. He is a big advocate for First Nations youth becoming leaders in their communities.

Gino Odjick

Native to the Algonquin reserve of Kitigan Zibi, QC, and a local fan-favourite and hero in Vancouver due to his time with the Canucks, Gino Odjick was much more than just a “tough guy.” Beyond having a whopping 2127 penalty minutes with the Canucks (a club record), he was also viewed quite favourably by his friends, family, teammates, and coaches. Former teammates and coaches have described him as loyal, energetic, positive, humble, and just an overall great teammate and friend during his time with the Canucks. All these qualities followed him even after his career.

Odjick was and is highly active in the First Nations community during and after his career. He credits Pat Quinn and Ron Delorme as people who supported him the most in visiting First Nations communities and hosting hockey schools and events in these areas. Odjick was inducted into the BC Sports Hall of Fame on June 9, 2022, alongside former teammate, Kirk McLean.