Canadiens vs Indigenous Alumni event coming up in January

John Chabot will be just one of the players participating in the NHL Indigenous Alumni game against the St. Paul Jr. Canadiens Indigenous Alumni on January 14, 2023, at the Clancy Richard Arena. 

It’s another event the Canadiens Alumni Foundation is putting on after hosting the Montreal Canadiens Alumni game in the fall. 

To connect the franchise’s roots with the many Indigenous players who have donned the red, white, and blue, the historic game will see former pros coming to St. Paul. 

“We have had this team for several years, four or five now, and we had a bunch of Indigenous alumni over the years that we have tried to organize games, and we got together about five years ago,” said John Chabot, former NHL player. 

“We have been pretty much across the country, and not only do we have Indigenous alumni but a number of our Indigenous Olympic team members, both American and Canadian, who play with us now.” 

 

Chabot’s NHL experience

Chabot was drafted in the 2nd round, 40th overall, in 1980 by the Montreal Canadiens. His career lasted from 1982-2001, and during that time, he played for the Pittsburgh Penguins and Detroit Red Wings.

He finished his playing career with 508 games played, 84 goals, and 228 assists, in total, for 312 points. 

“It was a different time. For most people, I think racism is hand in hand with ignorance. When I played, it is what it is. I grew up with it, and for the most part, it wasn’t the kids and the players; it was more the parents that made an issue out of it. The kids were friends,” said Chabot. 

“The NHL, there were things that would happen on the ice. I accept where we have moved from there to here, that what happened then could not happen now.” 

Chabot was also a coach from 2001-2010, that time frame being an assistant coach for the Hull Olympiques (QMJHL), Gatineau Olympiques (QMJHL), a head coach for Acadie-Bathurst Titan (QMJHL), and the New York Islanders assistant coach (NHL). 

“I know a lot of times you say things on the ice to get under the players’ skin, try and take them off their game. It was not always pleasant; things were said to different people about different things, hilarious things that you are on the bench giggling about, it would never fly these days,” he said.  

“Society at the time was ignorant and racist, making somebody else feel bad to make yourself feel better. As Alumni, we continue to push these boundaries to make things better and more acceptable for everyone.”

 

Female Olympians participating with the team 

There are also female hockey players participating in the upcoming game. Abby Roque, who became the first Native American to play for the women’s Olympic Ice hockey team; Jocelyne Larocque of Metis heritage and the first indigenous woman to participate in the women’s ice hockey tournament at the Winter Olympics; and Victoria Bach, a First Nation’s woman who was a member of the 2021 IIHF gold medal-winning Canadian Women’s hockey team.

“Our female Olympians play with us. We must understand that female hockey is one of the fastest-growing sports in our country. You can be what you can see, to bring the women out with us is fantastic; they are good players, and they get it, the tough situations and issues moving forward. They are dealing with what I dealt with in the ’70s and ’80s,” Chabot shared. 

“With female hockey, the racism they encounter all the time, these people tell really good stories, not only men but women, and to have them play with us and on the board is fantastic.” 

Chabot advised Indigenous kids wanting to get to the NHL.

“There has to be self-belief. Things are going to happen; people are going to say things negatively and positively. At the end of the day, believing in yourself is what will pull you through. Indigenous, non-indigenous – we all have obstacles we need to overcome. As an Indigenous player, the obstacles may be greater at times, but it’s the same thing, people are coming from somewhere to go somewhere,” said Chabot.

“You can be from a small community in Alberta and end up in Ontario or Nunavut. You have to believe in yourself to get where you want to go, people are not going to give you an open door. You need to push that door open. Higher levels of hockey just want good players, they don’t care where you are from, the colour of your skin, they want people that can play.”

The event is part of a doubleheader on Jan. 14. After the Canadiens and Indigenous Alumni take the ice at 4:00 pm, the Jr. Canadiens will host the Onion Lake Border Chiefs. 

Twenty dollars gets spectators into both games. 

Tickets are on sale now for the event.