THUNDER BAY – The Kam River Fighting Walleye are a hockey team with a message to deliver, one of Truth and Reconciliation.
The Superior International Junior Hockey League team on Friday night will honour the Indigenous People who call Northwestern Ontario home, donning special jerseys, holding special RBC pre-game ceremonies and encouraging their growing fan base to learn more about the country’s relationships with First Nations across the land.
It’s an honour to play in the Fighting Walleye’s second annual Orange Wave Indigenous Night, said Kam River defenceman Kyle Lamoureux, on hand on Wednesday to officially announce the contest, which also serves as the team’s home opener against their cross-town rival Thunder Bay North Stars at Norwest Arena.
“It’s really cool to see the education being brought upon us. They’re putting that back on us to give us even more education on it too. Last year we had someone come in and give a teaching to our entire team and kind of showcase the guys that aren’t from Thunder Bay… who don’t maybe know the community,” Lamoureux said.
“It was unbelievable.”
Fighting Walleye coach Matt Valley said it’s a big night, not just for the game, but also to help further spread the message of Truth and Reconciliation Day, which was introduced last year as a federal holiday in the wake of the discovery of hundreds of unmarked graves at former residential school sites across the country.
“I think it’s a really good opportunity for us to come together as people and just start to be open-minded about what’s gone on in the past and where we should be heading in the future,” Valley said. “A lot of organizations we work with, and not only with the Walleye, but outside of hockey too, are starting to become aware of the importance of that.
“It’s not about one group doing this and another group doing that. It’s about everyone being together.”
The Fighting Walleye have several Indigenous players on their roster, and once again will be offering the Walleye Warrior Indigenous Scholarship, helping a player cover the cost of post-secondary education once their SIJHL career is finished.
“I think that’s when you learn the most and how you grow the most."
The Fighting Walleye, which opened with a pair of road wins last weekend, have partnered with Warrior Supply to stage Orange Wave Indigenous Night and team president Derek Geddes said it’s a fantastic opportunity to spread a message of inclusion.
“We have more than a handful of Indigenous players on our team and in our program, and it’s just a wonderful thing to bring this to our community and work on healing some things, making everyone comfortable and providing an inclusive dressing room,” Geddes said.
The team, whose primary colour is orange, will be donning special jerseys for the game and will auction them off to help raise money for the scholarship fund.
Puck drop is 7:30 p.m.
There will also be post-game fireworks outside the Norwest Arena. The two teams will play a rematch on Saturday night at Fort William Gardens.
