Little NHL

Little NHL is an organization that held an anthem contest in 2017.

In Anishinabek News

• April 2013: The tournament was held in Mississauga in 2013. Contacts made at the tournament led to the delivery of 34 cars to First Nations customers in March and April 2013.
• February 2014: Anthony Pelletier played in this league for 11 years.
• March 2016: The tournament celebrated its 45th anniversary in March 2016 with an event held in Mississauga. The 2016 theme for the competition was 45 Years of Fan Appreciation.
• April 2016: The tournament was held in Mississauga from March 14 to 17, 2016. The 2016 event featured a record number of teams.
• February 2017: A prospects tryout for Aboriginal Team Ontario was scheduled to take place during this tournament in 2017.
• March 2017: Jody Randall Waddilove was recognized for his pride and continuous support for this organization each year.
• March 2017: Grandchildren of the original Nipissing Warriors fans now participate in this tournament.
• May 2017: Paul Williams served on the executive committee as the Little NHL Elder. The organization utilized standards to ensure that managers and trainers were certified.
• July 2017: The granddaughters of Stephen Fox were participants in this event. Stephen Fox could be found cheering on his granddaughters at the sidelines of this event.
• March 2018: Players from Nipissing First Nation have competed in this league as members of the Nipissing Warriors.
• September 2018: A jersey from this league was donated by Wrightway Sportswear for a silent auction at the Anishinabek Educational Institute fundraiser.
• July 2019: Tabatha Bull encourages Indigenous youth to participate in this league.
• February 2020: The 2020 Anemki Unity Winter Classic provided a local alternative for families who could not attend this tournament.
• October 2021: Organizers announced plans to hold the 2022 tournament in Mississauga from March 13-17. Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory may enter local squads into the event following the conclusion of their development program.
• May 2022: The Little NHL had not been held for three consecutive years as of May 2022. The North Bay Indigenous Hub hosted a hockey camp partly because the Little NHL was missing.
• January 2023: The 2023 tournament was scheduled for March 12-16 in Mississauga and hosted by Nipissing First Nation. The event was a planned location for the free distribution of the NHL First Peoples Rookie Cards set.
• February 2023: Thirty percent of proceeds from a specific shirt sold at Anishwe are donated to help families cover costs for children playing in the league.
• May 2023: The 2023 tournament was hosted by Nipissing First Nation. The event was photographed by Sara Cornthwaite and Matthew Penasse.
• May 2023: The 2023 tournament took place in Mississauga during the month of March. Emerson Taylor played for a Curve Lake First Nation team that won a silver medal in the Under 18 competitive category.
• March 2024: The tournament celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2024 with a record 245 squads participating in games held primarily in Markham. A Hall of Fame gala was held on March 9, 2024, to recognize 15 new inductees across various categories. The event is described by Reggie Leach as one of the best tournaments in Canada.
• March 2024: The tournament inducted Chris Simon into its Hall of Fame during the 45th anniversary celebrations held in 2016. Chris Simon participated in this tournament during his youth and later returned to visit dressing rooms and encourage young players.
• May 2024: Bob Chiblow provided food services at the tournament in March 2024, serving hundreds of pounds of fish.
• August 2024: Kevin Eshkawkogan has participated in this tournament for over a decade in roles including head coach, manager, and trainer.
• October 2024: The Anishinabek Police Service conducts outreach through videos involving this group.
• December 2024: The Skode Program will hold its live pitch session and select a grand prize winner during the Little NHL in March.
• March 2025: The 51st running of this tournament began on March 9, 2025, and featured a record 276 participating clubs. First held in 1971 in Little Current, the event has been held annually except for a three-year cancellation from 2020 to 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The majority of the 2025 tournament games were held in Markham, with other contests in nearby communities.
• March 2025: The 2025 tournament featured a record 270 teams, including 48 girls' squads, and was held primarily in Markham. The event was first held in 1971 in Little Current with only 17 participating clubs. The 2025 edition included a display of trophies from the Hockey Hall of Fame at the Thornhill Community Centre.
• August 2025: Mary Bryton Nahwegahbow entered an anthem contest for this organization in 2017, which launched her trilingual performance career. The contest provided an early platform for the trilingual version of O Canada.