The National Aboriginal Hockey Championships (NAHC) are back after two years of cancellations due to Covid-19 and that means Team North is also back.

The 2022 edition of the championships will be held in Membertou, N.S., and itSA国际影视传媒檚 just a boys team that will be making the trip this time. There will be no girls squad this year due to timing, according to Kyle Kugler, Hockey NorthSA国际影视传媒檚 executive director.

SA国际影视传媒淲e didnSA国际影视传媒檛 feel it would be realistic and the coaches made the decision to hold off for a year,SA国际影视传媒� Kugler said. SA国际影视传媒淭he boys team asked to wait on making the decision for 2022 and they were able to get things together. Going forward, the goal is to have a girls team ready for the 2023 tournament.SA国际影视传媒�

The boys team comprises players from all three territories, with the majority hailing from Nunavut. Six of the boys are from the NWT and from that, four are from Yellowknife, including McKinley Talbot, who will be making both his first and last appearance with Team North. HeSA国际影视传媒檒l be too old for next yearSA国际影视传媒檚 tournament as itSA国际影视传媒檚 a U18 event.

Still, he said heSA国际影视传媒檚 proud to suit up with the squad.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 special to be able to represent the North as an Indigenous hockey player,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淣ot too many kids get the chance to do something like this and ISA国际影视传媒檓 hoping to make the most of it.SA国际影视传媒�

The other Yellowknife players on the team include Crew True-Jewell, who plays with the Rink Hockey Academy in Kelowna, B.C.; Carter McLeod, whoSA国际影视传媒檚 at the Edge School in Calgary; and Emmery Golchert, whoSA国际影视传媒檚 playing at Shawnigan Lake School in B.C.

Talbot, whoSA国际影视传媒檚 with the CarlSA国际影视传媒檚 U18 high-performance team in Yellowknife, said outside of the Yellowknife players, he doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 know too many of his future teammates.

SA国际影视传媒淚 know a couple of the kids from Whitehorse because I played with them on the (Yukon) Rivermen team a couple of years ago,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淔rom what ISA国际影视传媒檝e seen, it looks like we have a solid group of guys that are playing at a high level.SA国际影视传媒�

Team North has hit the podium once before SA国际影视传媒� at the 2016 tournament in Mississauga, Ont., when the boys scored a silver medal. Talbot is optimistic that they can reach that height again.

SA国际影视传媒淚f we play well, thereSA国际影视传媒檚 no reason we canSA国际影视传媒檛 get a medal,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚f we can get off to a quick start, weSA国际影视传媒檒l be in good shape because itSA国际影视传媒檚 such a short tournament and you donSA国际影视传媒檛 want to make any mistakes early.SA国际影视传媒�

The event schedule hasnSA国际影视传媒檛 yet been released, but Team NWTSA国际影视传媒檚 potential opposition could include Manitoba, Saskatchewan, B.C., Ontario North and South, Eastern Door and the North (Quebec) as well as the Atlantic provinces.

Having Team North return to the tournament was up in the air after the Aboriginal Sports Circle of the NWT, which had organized every facet of the outfit, announced in 2019 that it would no longer look after the day-to-day operations. The main reason was the cost; the budget for the 2019 championships was a little under $200,000, with no assistance from either Yukon or Nunavut.

READ MORE: Future of Team North at National Aboriginal Hockey Championships in doubt

Aaron Wells, the Aboriginal Sports CircleSA国际影视传媒檚 executive director, said heSA国际影视传媒檚 quite pleased to see Team North back in the saddle.

SA国际影视传媒淲e worked with Kyle on handing over the uniforms and the logo,SA国际影视传媒� Wells said. SA国际影视传媒淜yle has been sitting in on the (NAHC) meeting calls and we worked with Ryan (St. John, team manager) as well. ISA国际影视传媒檓 happy that thereSA国际影视传媒檚 a Team North at that tournament and hopeful that we can build a relationship with those in charge of running the operation.SA国际影视传媒�