In recognition of National Day for Truth & Reconciliation, here is an inspired list of Indigenous knowledge keepers & trailblazers in hockey:

PEOPLE
💡 Marian Jacko, Hockey Canada Board of Directors
💡 Stephane Friday, Hockey Indigenous (https://lnkd.in/gJUtZwN9)
💡 Janice Forsyth, Indigenous Hockey Research Network
💡 Naim Cardinal, Indigenous Rookie Cards (https://lnkd.in/gvcHrWAv)

PLAYERS
🏒 Clarence “Taffy” Abel (Anishnaabe)
-1st Native American NHLer
-321 NHL games (1926-34: Rangers, Blackhawks)
-2x Stanley Cup champ (Rangers ‘28, Blackhawks ‘34).
-Olympic silver medalist (USA, 1924)

🏒 Henry Maracle (Mohawk)
-16 NHL games-3 assists (1930-31: Rangers)
-10 seasons as a pro hockey player (1926-37)

🏒 George Armstrong (Anishnaabe)
-1188 NHL games-296 goals, 417 assists (1949-71: #MapleLeafs)
-7x NHL All-Star
-4x Stanley Cup champ

🏒 Fred Sasakamoose (Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation)
-11 NHL games (1953-54: Blackhawks)
-Spent 9 years of his childhood in a residential school in Duck Lake, SK where he learned how to play hockey
-Chief, Sandy Lake Indian Band (1980-84)

🏒 Reggie Leach (Anishnaabe)
-934 NHL games-381 goals, 285 assists (1970-83: Bruins, Golden Seals, Flyers, Red Wings)
-Stanley Cup champ & Conn Smythe Trophy winner (Flyers, 1975-76)

🏒 Bev Beaver (Mohawk)
-Played competitive hockey from 1967 to early 1990s
-2x COWHL’s leading scorer (‘67, ‘72)
-Ontario Ladies Hockey League champion (Brantford Blues, ’90)

🏒 Bryan Trottier (Cree/Métis)
-1279 NHL games-524 goals, 901 assists (1975-94: Islanders, Penguins)
-6x Stanley Cup champ (4x Islanders, 2x Penguins)
-Calder (‘76), Art Ross (‘79), Hart (‘79), Conn Smythe (‘80)

🏒 Ted Nolan (Garden River First Nation)
-Coached 427 NHL games-188-227-57 record (Sabres, Islanders)
-Jack Adams Award (1996-97)

🏒 Jordin Tootoo (Inuk)
-1st Inuk NHLer
-723 NHL games-65 goals, 96 assists (2003-17: Predators, Red Wings, Devils, Blackhawks)

🏒 Jocelyne Larocque (Métis)
-1st Indigenous athlete to play women’s ice hockey in Olympics (2014)
-2x Olympic gold medalist, 3x World Champion

🏒 Brigette Lacquette (Cote First Nation)
-1st First Nations woman to play in women’s ice hockey in Olympics (2018)
-Olympic silver medalist (Canada, ’18)

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