Calgary’s Jaxon Worm is ready to show why he was picked for Team Alberta at the 2024 National Aboriginal Hockey Championship (NAHC) taking place this week (May 6-11) in Grande Prairie.
“I was picked to play on this team for a reason and I wanted to play on this team,” Worm said. “I’ll be putting 100 per cent effort out there for these nine days of the tournament. My dad played in Native provincials back when he was about my age, and he played with Jordin Tootoo. I just wanted to follow in his footsteps.”
Along with his dad, Worm has a lot of ties back to his Aboriginal heritage. His grandmother grew up in Paddle Prairie Metis Settlement and his grandfather grew up in Kawacatoose, a reserve in Saskatchewan.
“I’m very proud of my Indigenous background,” said Worm. “Just knowing this tournament connects me back to them in some way … I’m just excited to play and show them what I have.”
The Aboriginal Sport Circle established the NAHC in 2002 to serve as the premiere competition for young Indigenous hockey players in Canada. The annual event attracts participation from First Nation, Inuit and Metis across the 13 provinces and territories, and helps foster cultural unity and pride to celebrate the athletic abilities of Indigenous players.
Hockey Alberta, in partnership with the Indigenous Sport Council of Alberta, coordinates the selection process for the players and coaches representing the province at the championships. Team Alberta’s male tryouts were held in August and the team was announced in September.
With the tournament being so far out from when he was named to the team, Worm is excited to finally have the puck dropped and get the tournament underway.
Team Alberta plays Team Saskatchewan in their first contest today, and then follows with round-robin games against Team Ontario on May 7, and a pair of games on May 8 against Team Atlantic and Team Manitoba.
“I’ve been training a lot. Going to the gym and getting extra ice time in,” Worm said. “I’ve been preparing myself for this and I’m excited to meet these new people that will be my teammates. I saw some of the guys on our team during tryouts and I think a lot of us were really good skill wise. So, I’m just excited to see what we can do on the ice.”
This is also the first time Alberta is hosting the NAHC, which adds a little extra excitement to the team knowing they get to play in front of the hometown crowd at Design Works Centre in Grande Prairie.
“It’s great. Growing up in Alberta, it’s awesome to have the tournament here,” Worm said. “I have a lot of family coming to watch and they’re all really excited to watch me and the team play. We’ve never won gold at this event, but I think it’s very possible for us to do it. Winning it on home ice would just be an added bonus.”
All games are being streamed on YouTube.
The team’s full schedule can be found below:
| Team Alberta Male NAHC Schedule | ||
| May 6 | Team Alberta vs Team Saskatchewan | 8:30 P.M. |
| May 7 | Team Alberta vs Team Ontario | 11:15 P.M. |
| May 8 | Team Alberta vs Team Atlantic | 11:00 A.M. |
| May 8 | Team Alberta vs Team Manitoba | 8:00 P.M. |
| May 9 | Qualifying Round | TBD |
| May 10 | Male Relegation Games | TBD |
| May 10 | Semi-Finals | TBD |
| May 11 | Bronze Medal Game | 10:00 A.M. |
| May 11 | Gold Medal Game | 4:00 P.M. |
