Fred Sasakamoose

Frederick "Fred" Sasakamoose, CM (December 25, 1933 – November 24, 2020) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player. He was one of the first Canadian Indigenous players in the National Hockey League,[2][3] and the first First Nations player with treaty status.[4] He played 11 games with the Chicago Black Hawks during the 1953–54 season; the rest of his career, which lasted from 1953 to 1960, was spent in various minor leagues. After his playing career, Sasakamoose became involved in Indigenous affairs, and served as chief of the Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation for a period. He was later recognized for his work, including being named a member of the Order of Canada.

Fred Sasakamoose
Born (1933-12-25)December 25, 1933
Debden, Saskatchewan, Canada[1]
Died November 24, 2020(2020-11-24) (aged 86)
Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Canada
Height 5 ft 8 in (173 cm)
Weight 165 lb (75 kg; 11 st 11 lb)
Position Centre
Shot Right
Played for Chicago Black Hawks
Playing career 1953–1960

Early life

Sasakamoose was of Cree descent.[5] He was born in Debden, Saskatchewan and 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 children, where only 5 survived throughout childhood due to smallpox.[6][1] When he was six years old, Canadian authorities forced him and his brother into a truck, under the pretenses of providing them with a better education. [7]

Hockey career

In 1944 Sasakamoose joined the Duck Lake ice hockey team.[8] Sasakamoose's skills were first recognized by a priest in Montreal who became the sports director at the Indian residential school Sasakamoose was attending. The priest pushed Sasakamoose to improve himself, and he went on to develop an extraordinary left-handed shot as a result.[5] Sasakamoose had a troubled time at the school: when he was nine he was raped by fellow students, and detailed other punishments by the school officials.[9] While Sasakamoose became one of the star players on the school's team, he left Duck Lake at the age of 15 and so feared returning to the school that he didn't believe at first when a priest had a hockey scout visit his home.[10]

Ultimately Sasakamoose did meet the scout, and at the age of 16 joined the junior Moose Jaw Canucks, who played in the Western Canada Junior Hockey League.[8] After scoring 31 goals during the 1953–54 season he was named the league's most valuable player.[5] During the season he made his NHL debut with the Chicago Black Hawks, playing November 20, 1953 against the Boston Bruins. Sasakamoose played two games with Chicago at the time before being sent back to junior, though he was called up again a few months later after Moose Jaw's season ended in February 1954.[11] Sasakamoose played 11 games for the Black Hawks that season, recording no points. The rest of his career was spent in various minor leagues.[11]

Post-hockey life

After retiring from ice hockey, Sasakamoose became a band councilor of the Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation, serving for 35 years, and spent one term (6 years) as Chief.[12] He was also extensively involved in the development of sports programs for Indigenous children.[11] Starting in 1961, he used his fame to promote opportunities for youth in sports which included ice hockey, long-distance running, track and field, soccer, and basketball.[5] In 2002, he was honoured by the Blackhawks at a home game.[11] He was inducted into the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame in the builders category in 2007.[13][14] He was also inducted into the Prince Albert Sports Hall of Fame, Meadow Lake Wall of Fame, FSIN Circle of Honour, and the Canadian Native Hockey Hall of Fame.[15] He was acknowledged for achievements and contributions by both the Assembly of First Nations and the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations (FSIN).[5] He was also a founding member of the Northern Indian Hockey League. He became a member of the Order of Canada in 2018.[16]

Death

Sasakamoose was admitted to hospital in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, where he was diagnosed with COVID-19 on November 20, 2020. He died four days later due to complications from the virus during the COVID-19 pandemic in Saskatchewan.[17][18] He was buried at the Ahtahkakoop First Nation Cemetery in Ahtakhakoop, Saskatchewan.[19]

He married Loretta Isbister in 1955, and had nine children.[12] At the time of his death, Sasakamoose's memoir, Call Me Indian, was being finished, and had a scheduled release date of April 6, 2021.[8]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Source:[20]

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GPGAPtsPIM GPGAPtsPIM
1950–51 Moose Jaw Canucks WCJHL 1877149 —————
1951–52 Moose Jaw Canucks WCJHL 4219224159 —————
1952–53 Moose Jaw Canucks WJHL 3618173540 975124
1953–54 Moose Jaw Canucks WJHL 3431265756 54268
1953–54 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 110006 —————
1954–55 New Westminster Royals WHL 2138116 —————
1954–55 Chicoutimi Sagueneens QHL 224482 62132
1955–56 Calgary Stampeders WHL 20002 —————
1956–57 Kamloops Chiefs OSHL 237101736 —————
1957–58 Kamloops Chiefs OSHL 5126275363 15761334
1958–59 Kamloops Chiefs OSHL 2010203042 50000
1960–61 North Battleford Beavers SIHA ————— —————
NHL totals 110006 —————

References
  1. "Fred Sasakamoose, one of first Indigenous players in NHL and former Moose Jaw Canuck, dies at age 86" – via Moose Jaw Today.
  2. Smith, Stephen (June 25, 2020). "Recasting the History of Pro Hockey's Indigenous Players". The New York Times. Retrieved November 24, 2020.
  3. "Fred Sasakamoose was native NHL pioneer". Edmonton Sun.
  4. "Sorry Fred, but Henry came first - A few facts regarding aboriginal hockey players". sihrhockey.org. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
  5. Brissenden, Constance. "Fred Sasakamoose". The Canadian Encyclopedia.
  6. "Fred Sasakamoose: Survivor, trailblazer, leader, hero" – via The Globe and Mail.
  7. "The Story Of Fred Sasakamoose, An Indigenous Hockey Pioneer". www.wbur.org. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
  8. Klinkberg, Marty (November 24, 2020). "Fred Sasakamoose, the NHL's first Indigenous player and a residential school survivor, dies". Globe and Mail. Retrieved November 24, 2020.
  9. "Ex-NHLer describes rape at residential school". CBC.ca. February 3, 2012. Retrieved November 24, 2020.
  10. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (2015). The Survivors Speak: A Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (PDF). p. 193. ISBN 978-0-660-01985-7.
  11. Douglas, William (November 24, 2020). "Sasakamoose, Indigenous NHL pioneer, dies at 86". NHL.com. Retrieved November 24, 2020.
  12. Adam, Betty Ann (January 7, 2017). "Fred Sasakamoose blazed a trail for indigenous hockey players". Saskatoon, Saskatchewan: The StarPhoenix. Retrieved November 24, 2020.
  13. "Inductee Directory". Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
  14. "Indigenous athletes inducted into SK Sports Hall of Fame". www.eaglefeathernews.com. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
  15. "Frederick "Fred" Sasakamoose". Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
  16. "Order of Canada member Sasakamoose continues to push for opportunities for Indigenous youth". www.eaglefeathernews.com. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
  17. Peterson, Julia (November 24, 2020). "Indigenous NHL pioneer Fred Sasakamoose dead at 86". CBC.ca. Retrieved November 24, 2020.
  18. Charlton, Jonathan (November 24, 2020). "Fred Sasakamoose, one of NHL's first Indigenous players, dies after COVID-19 diagnosis". CTV.ca. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
  19. "Frederick "Fred" Sasakamoose (1933-2020) - Find A..." www.findagrave.com. Retrieved January 19, 2021.
  20. "Frank Sasakamoose". Hockey Reference. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.