Northern Ont. hockey team takes helicopter, train and truck to play
Hockey tournaments look a bit different for the Moose River Attack than they do for most minor hockey teams.
Just this weekend, the team of nine and ten year olds from the James Bay Coast, including Moose Cree, Moose Cree First Nation, Moosonee and Moose Factory, travelled by helicopter, then train and then in the car to get to a tournament in New Liskeard.The player's view of Moose Cree First Nation from their helicopter on the first leg of their journey to a Cochrane hockey tournament. (Photo courtesy of Brenden Biedermann)“It’s a two mile helicopter ride and that takes three or four minutes," said Brenden Biedermann, the coach of the team.
"From there, we go to the train station, ride on the train for five hours. Then we get to Cochrane, that’s where we connect to the rest of the country via road I guess… New Liskeard from Cochrane it’s about a two hour drive."
The team has also travelled to Timmins and Sudbury this season.Moose River Attack players on their journey to a hockey tournament. (Photo courtesy of Brenden Biedermann)What is usually a two to three day tournament turns into a five day get away for the Attack, adding quite a few more expenses to the trip.
“We’re having to spend two extra nights in a hotel room, that’s two extra days of eating out," said Biedermann.
"For our team, we spent an additional $1,300 on the helicopter and another $1,300 on the train. So, just to go to a tournament costs us an extra $2,600 and that doesn’t include the hotel rooms."A helicopter pilot preparing to transport young hockey players from the James Bay Coast on step closer to their next game. (Photo courtesy of Brenden Biedermann)While travelling for tournaments is one thing, the team also has to get creative when finding ways to get to practice.
“Before all the ice and snow came, we were travelling with a frontier canoe across the river," the coach said.
"Next week, we are going to use a snow machine. We will load up the ski-doo here, with the toboggan, put my daughter on, I’ll drive and go over to have a practice with her teammates.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Town of Fort Nelson, B.C., ordered to evacuate due to wildfire
The entire town of Fort Nelson, B.C., as well as the nearby Fort Nelson First Nation, has been ordered to evacuate due to an out-of-control wildfire.
Bouchard lifts Edmonton Oilers to 4-3 overtime win over Canucks in Game 2
Evan Bouchard scored 5:38 into overtime and the Edmonton Oilers bounced back for a 4-3 win over the Vancouver Canucks in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Friday.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Video shows naked raccoon catching B.C. family by surprise
When Marvin Henschel spotted a strange and hairless creature wandering through a front lawn in B.C.'s Lower Mainland, he could barely believe his eyes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Out-of-control wildfire prompts evacuation alert for Fort McMurray, Saprae Creek Estates Friday night
An evacuation alert was issued for two Wood Buffalo communities Friday night, as crews battled an out-of-control wildfire near Fort McMurray.