Family, friends excited as player from Saskatchewan First Nation makes NHL debut
EDMONTON — About two dozen proud and excited fans were planning to attend an Oilers game in Edmonton on Thursday night to cheer on an Indigenous player making his NHL debut.
Ethan Bear from the Ochapowace First Nation in southeastern Saskatchewan was called up from the team’s American Hockey League affiliate, the Bakersfield Condors, in California on Tuesday.
Chief Margaret Bear said she was planning to go to the game at Rogers Place against the Nashville Predators along with the defenceman’s parents and 20 to 25 others from Ochapowace.
She said many more supporters from First Nations across the province planned to go to Saturday’s home game.