Study will determine if Indigenous owned pro hockey franchise can be a reality

By Sam Laskaris, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Students in a sports marketing class at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) will conduct a study this semester to determine the feasibility of establishing an Indigenous-owned professional hockey squad. The study will also help determine if it is plausible to have an all-Indigenous women’s club compete at international events. Ted Nolan, a former National Hockey League (NHL) player and coach, believes the answer, at least whether a women’s Indigenous team can be formed, is a resounding yes. Nolan coached the Wiikwemkoong T-Birds women’s squad at the 2022 Fred Sasakamoose Chief Thunderstick National Hockey Championship. “I was really blown away with the skill level there,’’ Nolan said of the tournament, which was held last May in Saskatoon. “There were five Olympians there.’’ Nolan said taking…

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