Team B.C. celebrates a goal against Manitoba at the 2025 National Aboriginal Hockey Championships. (Screengrab via CFJC Today)

By Victor Kaisar

HOCKEY

B.C. to play for women’s gold at National Aboriginal Hockey Championships in Kamloops

May 10, 2025 | 12:24 PM

KAMLOOPS — Organizers of the National Aboriginal Hockey Championships in Kamloops are hoping for a good turnout at the medal games Saturday (May 10) as the week-long tournament comes to an end.

It will be Team BC and Manitoba who square off in the women’s gold medal game at 7:00 p.m., while Alberta will face Manitoba in the men’s gold medal game at 4:00 p.m. Both those games will be played at Sandman Centre.

“We want to make sure that the Sandman Centre doesn’t look empty for the games,” Duncan Olthuis, the Chair of the Kamloops organizing committee, told CFJC Today.

“It’s been a great, great tournament.”

In women’s action, B.C. finished the round robin stage in fourth place with two wins, two losses – including one to Manitoba – and one tie. They then beat Ontario 6-2 in Friday’s semi-final to advance to the gold medal game at this tournament for the first time ever.

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Team B.C. features Jaylah Bottle, who is from Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc. The 17-year-old defender has two assists in six games at the tournament.

“It’s really special being able to represent where I come from, here in Kamloops,
Bottle is quoted as saying in a post on Facebook. “I hope younger players see what’s possible and go after it.”

In men’s action, Team B.C. finished in fifth place after three losses and two ties in the round robin stage. They were then beaten 3-1 by Eastern Door and the north in Friday’s relegation game.

Also scheduled for Saturday are the two bronze medal games featuring Ontario and Saskatchewan in both the women’s and men’s tournaments.

Admission to all of the medal games is free.