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Mushkegowuk Cup cancelled due to COVID-19 concerns

'All the kids look forward to it. And not being able to provide it in the last couple of years has been hard, and disappointing the kids,' says co-ordinator
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An annual minor hockey tournament bringing First Nations teams and fans together has been cancelled.

The decision was announced on Facebook on Tuesday.

The 14th annual tournament was supposed to be held in Timmins on Feb. 24-27.

“As per consensus of the Council of Chiefs, it has been decided the 14th Annual Mushkegowuk Cup be cancelled. With community safety being top priority due to the widespread of the Omicron variant this decision did not come lightly,” reads the post. “We explored all options but due to the uncertainty of the current climate we are unable to proceed with the hosting of Mush Cup.”

Last year, the tournament was also cancelled due to the COVID-19 concerns.

The event typically involves about 50 youth hockey teams and 750 players and attracts thousands of fans from northern Ontario and Quebec.

Mushkegowuk Cup’s co-ordinator Nadeen Carey said it’s the biggest hockey tournament in the Mushkegowuk region.

She said Mushkegowuk Cup’s organizers were “really hoping” the tournament would go ahead this year to give children something to look forward to.

“All the kids look forward to it. And not being able to provide it in the last couple of years has been hard, and disappointing the kids. But their safety is more important,” she said.


Dariya Baiguzhiyeva

About the Author: Dariya Baiguzhiyeva

Dariya Baiguzhiyeva is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter covering diversity issues for TimminsToday. The LJI is funded by the Government of Canada
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