Richard Froese
South Peace News
Hockey teams and players from various parts of northern Alberta played in the second annual Starr Sasakamoose SS Cup Hockey Tournament in High Prairie from March 21-23.
C.C. Farms, of Peavine, won the Men’s Division after defeating Dirty Mike and the Boyz, of Loon River, 4-3 in the final.
Peavine Legends won the Legends Division after defeating the Sturgeon Lake Blues 5-4 in the final.
Trey’s Pals won the Ladies’ Division for the second successive year when they shut out the Wabasca Sharks 4-0 in the final.
No individual player awards were presented.
The tournament featured a total of 16 teams – seven in the Men’s Division, four in the Legends Division and five in the Ladies’ Division. All games were two periods with 25 minutes run time except for the second period when the last five minutes was stopped time.
Organizers and the Sasakamoose family appreciate those who supported the event in various ways.
The family initiated and organized the tournament to fulfill a dream Sasakamoose had before he suddenly passed away April 10, 2023 at 43 years of age – to host an annual hockey tournament in High Prairie. He was a member of Driftpile Cree Nation and was a councillor at the time of his death.
His sister, Kristal Sasakamoose, co-ordinated the tournament.
His daughter, Jordyn Sasakamoose, says the event was meaningful for the family and carried the heart of her father.
“The tournament was held as a memorial for my dad,” Sasakamoose says.
“He had the dream of hosting a tournament and was trying to make the arrangements to do so before he passed away.
“With the Treaty 8 Cup tournament moving Slave Lake, he wanted to keep a hockey tournament in our community.”
She adds the Treaty 8 Cup tournament was a big part of High Prairie and her father wanted a tournament in the community and include everyone. His vision was to have the new tournament become an annual event.
“My dad, Starr, was always about helping and including everyone,” Sasakamoose says.
“He was a very community-oriented man.”
The family intends to continue the tournament.
“We plan to host this tournament for as long as we can,” Sasakamoose says.
