Fred Sasakamoose
| Fred Sasakamoose | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Born |
December 25, 1933 Ahtahkakoop, Saskatchewan, Canada | ||
| Height | 5 ft 8 in (173 cm) | ||
| Weight | 165 lb (75 kg; 11 st 11 lb) | ||
| Position | Centre | ||
| Shot | Right | ||
| Played for |
NHL Chicago Black Hawks | ||
| Playing career | 1954–1960 | ||
Frederick "Chief Running Deer" Sasakamoose (born December 25, 1933) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player. He is the first Canadian indigenous player in the National Hockey League,[1] and the first First Nations player with treaty status.
Sasakamoose is of Cree descent. His Cree name that elders gave to him means "to stand firm".[2] He grew up on the Ahtahkakoop Indian Reserve in Saskatchewan and learned to play ice hockey at an Indian residential school in Duck Lake, Saskatchewan. He was one of 11 kids, where only five survived throughout childhood due to smallpox[3].
In 1953, Sasakamoose was selected as the most valuable player in the junior Western Canada Junior Hockey League while playing for the Moose Jaw Canucks, scoring 31 goals in 34 games in the 1953-54 season.[2] He then made his debut in the NHL for the Chicago Black Hawks at Maple Leaf Gardens the night of February 27, 1954. He played with the Blackhawks for 11 games[4] during the rest of the 1953–1954 season, and in following years played in the minor leagues. Sasakamoose skills are thanks to a Priest in Montreal who became the Sports director at the Indian residential school he was attending, who pushed Frederick to improve himself and develop an extraordinary left handed shot.[2]
After retiring from ice hockey, Sasakamoose became a band councillor on his home reserve and later chief for six years. He has also been extensively involved in the development of sports programs for indigenous children. Since 1961 and beyond, he used his fame to promote opportunities for youth in sports which included ice hockey, long-distance running, track and field, soccer and basketball.[2] In 2002, he was honoured by the Blackhawks at a home game. He was inducted into the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame in the builders category. He has been acknowledged for achievements and contributions by both the Assembly of First Nations and the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations (FSIN).[2] He was also a founding member of the Northern Indian Hockey League.
References
- ↑ "Fred Sasakamoose was native NHL pioneer". Edmonton Sun.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Brissenden, Constance. "Fred Sasakamoose". The Canadian Encyclopedia.
- ↑ "Fred Sasakamoose: Survivor, trailblazer, leader, hero" – via The Globe and Mail.
- ↑ "Fred Sasakamoose hockey statistics and profile at hockeydb.com". www.hockeydb.com.