Fourteen-year-old Cailen Hanzlik was named the MVP as she led the Nipissing Warriors to a championship in the Midget A division of the Little NHL tournament which took place in Mississauga this week.
Hanzlik, who plays goal for the Minor Bantam AAA Trappers boys team, was named the game MVP as the Warriors defeated Aamjiwnaang 2-1 in the tournament final on Thursday.
The Little Native Hockey League tournament has been around for the past 45 years and includes First Nation’s teams from across Ontario. This year more than 175 teams took part in the event during the March Break.
For Hanzlik, winning the tournament with older boys was a lot of fun.
“I got to play with most of the boys I grew up with,” said Hanzlik.
“We came to this tournament ready to win and have fun of course like every year! I felt the hockey was different playing with them compared to the AAA's back home since they are all two to four years older than me.
"They had really kept me up when I was feeling low during some times in games. I felt like I fit in like one of the boys and I couldn't be more proud of my team’s success this past week.”
Cailen believes she is the first ever underage female goaltender to win a Little NHL Midget title.
She re-joins her Minor Bantam AAA Trappers team this weekend.
