Ontario's largest Indigenous hockey tournament began in Mississauga, Ont., on Sunday and thousands of First Nations children and teens are taking part.
The 49th Little Native Hockey League (LNHL) tournament, known as the Little NHL, got underway on Sunday evening with opening ceremonies at Paramount Fine Foods Centre.
The event runs until Thursday. Nipissing First Nation is hosting the event, which features 184 teams from across Ontario. A total of 487 games are being played in four days at five Mississauga arenas.
It's the first time that the event is being held since the COVID-19 pandemic started. Patrick Madahbee, president of the LNHL, said on Sunday that the tournament brings Indigenous young people together to play hockey, and helps to unite First Nations communities.