Regina to host 2026 National Aboriginal Hockey Championships
The NAHC, organized by the non-profit Aboriginal Sport Circle and sanctioned by Hockey Canada, features 16 teams — eight male and eight female — made up of bantam and midget-aged Indigenous athletes. The annual event has served as a key platform for Indigenous sport development since 2002, said a Friday news release from the Regina Exhibition Association Limited.
The 2026 tournament will mark the first time Saskatchewan has hosted the championships since 2012, REAL's news release said.
The tournament is "a tremendous opportunity for our province to showcase our commitment to Indigenous sport," Fabian Head, third vice-chief of the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations, said in the release.
The championships create "a space where Indigenous youth can connect with their culture, build lasting relationships, and develop skills that extend far beyond the rink," he said.
The 2026 event will be hosted in partnership with Ochapowace Nation in southeastern Saskatchewan.
Chief Shelley Bear says that reflects the community's focus on youth development through sports and recreation, which she called "vital tools for building confidence, leadership and resilience in our young people."
"When we provide these opportunities, we're not just developing better athletes — we're developing stronger communities and future leaders who carry their cultural pride with them in everything they do," Bear was quoted as saying in the news release.
The NAHC typically delivers more than $1 million in economic impact per category to host communities, according to organizers.
Regina Mayor Chad Bachynski welcomed the announcement, calling the tournament a meaningful event for the city and province.
The event "strengthens the bonds between communities through the spirit of sport," Bachynski said in the press release.
The championship is part of the province's efforts to answer the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's calls to action around sports and reconciliation, REAL's news release said.
Sandra Jackle, president and CEO of the Regina Hotel Association, which is supporting the championships, said the event is an "outstanding celebration of sport and culture" that "strengthens cultural connections and community pride across Canada."
More information on schedules and tickets for the 2026 championships will be released closer to the event.
This year's event is being held in Kamloops, B.C., and wraps up Saturday.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Associated Press
17 hours ago
- Associated Press
Naples Soccer Academy Welcomes Peter Giannopoulos as Director of Security
'My highest priority is the safety and well-being of our Academy's athletes,' said Jason Gruner, Executive Director of Naples Soccer Academy 'My mission is to ensure that Naples Soccer Academy is not only a place for athletes to grow and succeed, but also one where families know their children are safe, protected, and supported'— Peter Giannopoulos NAPLES, FL, UNITED STATES, August 17, 2025 / / -- Naples Soccer Academy (NSA), a club-neutral 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated exclusively to advancing female youth soccer training and development in Southwest Florida (EIN 99-2663889), is proud to announce the appointment of Peter Giannopoulos as Director of Security. Giannopoulos joins NSA with more than 20 years of distinguished law enforcement service, including roles in SWAT and Special Operations, where he successfully completed over 1,000 high-risk missions. His extensive background includes advanced training alongside U.S. Navy SEALs and U.S. Army Delta Force operators, sharpening his expertise in tactical entry, dignitary protection, counterterrorism, surveillance, and active shooter response. Beyond his law enforcement career, Giannopoulos has excelled as a successful entrepreneur, banking executive, and real estate developer—bringing a rare combination of operational leadership, business acumen, and security expertise. 'My highest priority is the safety and well-being of our Academy's athletes,' said Jason Gruner, Executive Director of Naples Soccer Academy. 'Peter's assessment of our organizational operational needs will ensure NSA is doing everything we can to protect our girls on and off the pitch.' 'As the father of two daughters, I understand the responsibility parents feel when entrusting their children to an organization,' said Peter Giannopoulos. 'My mission is to ensure that Naples Soccer Academy is not only a place for athletes to grow and succeed, but also one where families know their children are safe, protected, and supported.' A devoted husband and father, Giannopoulos is deeply committed to creating a secure environment where athletes and their families can focus on what matters most—growth, performance, and community. About Naples Soccer Academy: Naples Soccer Academy (NSA) is a club-neutral 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing female youth soccer training and development in Southwest Florida. By providing elite-level coaching, athlete-first programs, and professional mentorship, NSA empowers young athletes to achieve excellence both on and off the pitch. The Academy is committed to player safety, ethical leadership, and creating opportunities for every athlete to succeed. Jason T. Gruner Naples Soccer Academy Corporation +1 239-272-1082 email us here Visit us on social media: Instagram Facebook TikTok Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content 'as is' without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
10 Thoughts: Roughriders prove eliteness in win over Tiger-Cats
The Saskatchewan Roughriders are 8-1 for just the second time ever. In 2013, the Green and White got off to a similar start before going on to win the Grey Cup. On Saturday, in what was hyped up as a 'potential Grey Cup preview,' the Roughriders beat the visiting Hamilton Tiger-Cats 29-9 in Week 11 of the CFL season in front of a sold-out crowd at Mosaic Stadium. Here are 10 takeaways from the performance: 10 Thoughts 1. Based on the hype leading up to Saturday's game, it was going to be hard for the two division-leading teams to live up to the expectations in what many dubbed a 'Grey Cup preview.' And in the end, the Roughriders overcame a slow start and put together an overall solid offensive performance while Saskatchewan's defence played remarkably well against the league's highest-scoring offence. Two good teams went head-to-head, but the better team took over. 2. A lot of the hype was due to the play of the two quarterbacks after their strong starts to the season. However, it was a tough start for the Roughriders quarterback Trevor Harris on Saturday as Tiger-Cats defensive back Jonathan Moxey dropped what should have been an interception on the first pass of the game. On Saskatchewan's second drive, Harris was intercepted on his third throw of the game. 3. After that, Harris settled in just fine over the next few drives and ended the night with 307 yards and three touchdowns. As many have said, Harris is playing the best football of his lengthy career right now. 4. On the other side, Tiger-Cats QB Bo Levi Mitchell, who had an outstanding 21 touchdowns to just three interceptions entering the game, threw two interceptions in the third quarter and ended the night with just 201 passing yards. The Roughriders defensive line also made it tough on Mitchell with six sacks. 'Stymied' would be a good word to describe the defensive performance. 5. The atmosphere was great at the sold-out Mosaic Stadium for the game, which was dubbed 'Family Day' with several kids being involved in the game-day production. And there was a special moment during the pre-game player introductions as T.J. Harris, Trevor's oldest son, announced the offensive introductions and capped it off with: 'At quarterback, MY DAD, Trevor Harris.' It was a goosebump-inducing moment not only for those in attendance but also for the 39-year-old dad, who got teary-eyed in the moment and again after the game when I asked him about it during his media scrum. 6. Dohnte Meyers has turned into an elite deep threat as was evidenced by his 58-yard touchdown in the second quarter as he made a nifty inside-out double move on Moxey to find himself wide open downfield. Harris found him easily and Meyers secured his team-leading fifth touchdown of the season. To think he was battling for a starting spot in training camp is hard to fathom considering what he's done this year. 7. With wind gusts reaching 45 kilometres per hour, Roughriders kicker Brett Lauther had to deal with both sides of it. Without making excuses for Lauther, who has not had his best season so far, he missed a 28-yard field goal wide right into the wind in the first quarter before a wind-aided 59-yard field goal to end the first half. Lauther then missed a 42-yarder into the wind in the third quarter. There wasn't much excuse for a 46-yard miss off the left upright with the wind in the fourth. I've said the team needs to continue to stick with Lauther, but I have to wonder if competition won't be brought in at some point. 8. The wind also affected the punting and return game. Not only were punts sailing more than 70 yards with the wind on Saturday, but Roughriders returner Drae McCray misread a punt that resulted in a fumble deep in his own territory. Saskatchewan's defence bailed him out though as Rolan Milligan Jr. intercepted Mitchell on the one-yard line moments later. Harris then drove the field for a touchdown, which proved to be one of the biggest drives of the game. Harris said it was arguably the biggest drive of the season. 9. On any other team, Caleb Sanders would be a starting defensive tackle. However, in Saskatchewan, he's playing behind two all-stars in Micah Johnson and Mike Rose. Sanders doesn't get a lot of fanfare, but he made his mark on Saturday with a nine-yard sack in the second quarter. Any time he's been on the field, Sanders finds a way to be noticed. 10. With an 8-1 record, the Roughriders have clearly proven they're an elite team in the CFL. However, an even more intriguing matchup awaits next week as Saskatchewan will get a second chance at Calgary (6-3) after losing to the Stampeders 24-10 earlier this season. If Saskatchewan-Hamilton was a potential Grey Cup preview, Saskatchewan-Calgary in Week 12 is no doubt a West Final preview. tshire@ Related Roughriders beat Tiger-Cats 29-9 on Saturday to improve to 8-1 'We were upside down': Roughriders' Zack Fry recalls car crash that sidelined him one game The Regina Leader-Post has created an Afternoon Headlines newsletter that can be delivered daily to your inbox so you are up to date with the most vital news of the day. Click here to subscribe. With some online platforms blocking access to the journalism upon which you depend, our website is your destination for up-to-the-minute news, so make sure to bookmark and sign up for our newsletters so we can keep you informed. Click here to subscribe.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Iowa City Regina QB Kyle Tracy shares excitement for senior season
Iowa City Regina quarterback Kyle Tracy compiled 2,695 total yards and 29 touchdowns, both ranking in the top five in Class 1A last season.
