Let the Season Begin!
October 19, 2006

by Steve Valerio, Communications Director
Nativehockey.com

The 2006-2007 hockey season is off and running, and it’s time to see what’s going on in the NHL.  Of course, one of the big stories of the summer took place on Long Island.  The New York Islanders turned some heads when they announced the hiring of Ted Nolan as their new head coach.  It sure is good to see Ted back coaching in the NHL again, and his hiring by an NHL team was long overdue.  To help welcome Ted Nolan back into the NHL, a few busloads of people made the long trip from The Garden River First Nation Reserve near Sault Ste. Marie, all the way to Long Island for the Islanders first home stand of the season.  It was great to see the support given to Ted by the people from his home Reserve and was a proud moment for both the supporters from Garden River and the coach.

Ted joins Islander legend Bryan Trottier, who is Executive Director of Player Development for the Islanders. Trottier, a Metis, won four Stanley Cups as an Islander player, two more while playing for the Pittsburg penguins, and his seventh Stanley Cup as an assistant coach for the Colorado Avalanche in 2001.

And if things weren’t exciting enough on Long Island, the Islanders then signed former Calgary Flame, Chris Simon.  The opportunity for Chris to once again play for his former junior coach was something he couldn’t pass up.  Simon is an experienced player who has plenty to offer a young Islander team, and he will be counted on to provide some valuable leadership.  So far, in the early part of this season, Chris Simon and Aaron Asham have been playing on a line together.  Talks about a double shot of Native toughness, the Islanders have it.

In Montreal, Sheldon Souray returns for another season on the Habs blueline, and Wade Redden is back in Ottawa after being re-signed by the Senators.  Both players will be providing leadership and stability to their teams as they have both developed into solid and consistent defensemen.

Moving west, Rene Bourque returns to Chicago for his second season in the Windy City.  Newcomer and former Lethbridge Hurricane DJ King made his NHL debut as a member of the St. Louis Blues this season and joins Jamie Rivers,who once again is a member of the Blues after stops in Detroit and Phoenix.  In Nashville, Jordin Tootoo returns for another campaign with the Predators, while in Colorado, Cody McCormick has started this season on the Injured Reserve list with a chest injury.  Hopefully Cody will be back on the ice in a short time, as the Avalanche can certainly use his tough and gritty style of play.

On the West coast, Jon Cheechoo and the San Jose Sharks are gearing up for another strong run at the Cup.  Cheech has already recorded his first hat trick of the 2006-2007 season and is sure to have another great year. 

So get ready for another great year of hockey from our Native hockey players in the NHL, and at all levels of this great game we all love.  Keep the emails coming, and watch for developments regarding your favorite native hockey players. 

Welcome to the 2006-2007, from NativeHockey.com