Orange jerseys mark truth and reconciliation pledge for this St. Thomas hockey team

A hockey team in St. Thomas has swapped out their green jerseys for a new look: bright orange. 

For players on the St. Thomas Minor Hockey Association (STMHA)'s U11 AA Junior Stars, the change is about more than colour. It comes with responsibility. 

They're one of 750 minor hockey teams across Canada to join the Orange Jersey Project, taking steps toward educating the community about residential schools and promoting truth and reconciliation. 

"Learning about it means a lot to me and my family," said player Ken Carnahan, whose mother is a member of Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation.

"I think it's really good that they are also knowing too, instead of just us," he said. 

Ken was excited to be named honorary team captain by his coaches last month, now sporting a "C" on his new jersey. The 10-year-old has been playing hockey since he was three, he said. 

The jerseys are marked with the number 87 to signify the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's calls to action 87, to provide public education on Aboriginal athletes in history. The initiative was launched by the Orange Shirt Society.

"I think it all comes down to what we do now. So we need to learn about it and know about it, so this doesn't happen ever again," Ken said. 

Coaches surprised the team with new orange jerseys in January — and the team has stepped up to the challenge to learn more about residential schools. They've had conversations, and done educational modules online about Indigenous history and residential schools as part of the project, he said. 

"If they're going to be talking about something in the dressing room, let's take that time to educate them," said Dave Humphreys, trainer for the STMHA U11 AA Junior Stars. 

Coaching staff have been proud