ATTAWAPISKAT – SPORTS – Attawapiskat First Nation Women’s Hockey Team made their home community proud by becoming tournament champions in their category at the Rupert River Cup 2026, held in the Cree Nation of Waskaganish, Quebec, from March 5 to 8, 2026.
“It felt great to be with our team to win this tournament for our community. I’ve always been happy to represent our home through hockey. It is exciting for me to get all the support and encouragement from everyone back home,” said 16-year-old Nevaeh Koostachin.
She was one of the youngest players on her team, who ranged in age from 15 to 25.
The Women’s Hockey group final took place on the last day of the tournament on March 8 with a final score of 5-1 for Attawapiskat. Team Attawapiskat’s Sarah Verbeek scored a hat trick with three goals, along with goals by Makayla Wynne and Keisha McLeod. Chisasabi’s Trisha Atsynia scored their team’s only goal in the final game.
The Attawapiskat Women’s Hockey Team included team Captain / Manager Keisha Iahtail and players Davida Nakochee, Makayla Wynne, Sabette Hookimaw, Lydia Linklater, Anna Blueboy, Neveah Koostachin, Sarah Verbeek and Keisha McLeod. Iahtail was the main organizer and manager of the group that brought the team to the tournament.
The Attawapiskat Women’s team had a poor start on the first day of the tournament with a first game loss of 7-1 against Chisasibi Flames.
“We arrived on our first day of the tournament and went straight to our first game before we even figured out where we were staying for the next few days. We lost badly on our first game and at the end of it, we didn’t know where we were staying and we wondered if joining the tournament was a good idea or not,” said Koostachin.
Once accommodation facilities were filled in the community, Waskaganish First Nation residents opened their homes to host visiting players and their families.
Neveah Koostachin was one of the youngest players at 16 years of age to be part of the Attawapiskat FN Womens Team during the Rupert River Cup Tournament which was held in Waskaganish from March 5 to 8, 2026. She is pictured here with her parents Trevor Koostachin and Rita Shisheesh.
The Attawapiskat Womens Team successfully recovered on the second day, winning all three games they played. On the final day of the tournament, their playoff final statistics featured two games which were both wins.
They played against other Women’s Hockey tournament group teams including Chisasibi Flames, Eastmain, Mistissini Trappers and Waskaganish Lady Wings.
Attawapiskat FN players and their families travelled to the tournament so that they could include a men’s team in the Class B Hockey group and a women’s team in the Women’s Hockey group. Koostachin and her family were just one of several families who travelled from northern Ontario to the remote northern highway on the east coast of James Bay in Quebec.
Koostachin has been playing organized hockey since she was eight, when her family moved from Attawapiskat FN to Sudbury, Ontario, so that her parents Trevor Koostachin and Rita Shisheesh could complete their post-secondary education. Their family also includes younger sister Kylie. Nevaeh is currently playing as a Forward for the Sudbury Lady Wolves U18 B division. She hopes to attend post-secondary school in the future and take more opportunities in higher level women’s hockey.
Charles J Hester, Director of Sports and Recreation for Waskaganish FN, was one of the main organizers of the four-day winter sports tournament for their community.
“Events like this provide positive entertainment for our communities. This also gives us a sense of nationhood when we are able to bring together so many people, from many communities and different nations, to join in games of broomball and hockey. We all get to meet people from so many places and it allows everyone to socialize and connect with new friends. Hockey is a popular sport in the Cree nation, especially in our community here in Waskaganish. I guess you could say it’s our official sport. We were very happy to see such a successful event this year,” said Hester.
Several different group divisions were held for the four-day tournament.
Class A Broomball included the teams of Chisasibi Northstars, Waskaganish Ravens, Eastmain Angels, Waskaganish Starlites and Wemindji Icestars. Chisasibi Northstars won Class A Broomball in a final game against Waskaganish Ravens.
Class B Broomball included the teams of Lac Simon Royals, Waskaganish Wildcats, Chisasibi Scorpions, Mistissini Black Ice, Ouje Sparrows, Washaw Sibi Falcons, Waskaganish Knights and Wemindji Wolverines. Lac Simon Royals won Class B Broomball in a final game against Waskaganish Wildcats.
Class A Hockey included the teams of Mistissini Trappers, Waskaganish Wings, Eastmain Snipers and Moose Cree Scrappers. Mistissini Trappers won Class A Hockey in a final game against Waskaganish Wings.
Class B Hockey included the teams of Waskaganish Jets, Waskaganish Hawks, Attawapiskat Stars, Lac Simon Beavers, Nemaska Axemen, Opitciwan Lynx, Waskaganish and Waskaganish Nordiques. Waskaganish Jets won Class B Hockey in a final game against Waskaganish Hawks.
