On Sept. 30, the McGill men’s varsity hockey team will face off against Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières in an exhibition match like no other. The game won’t be held at McConnell Arena but in the Innu community of Mashteuiatsh, nearly 500 kilometres north of Montreal.
For Mikisiw Awashish, a senior forward for the Redbirds and the driving force behind the event, this game is about much more than hockey. It’s about giving back to his hometown, fostering representation and sparking dreams in young Indigenous players who, like him, grew up skating on the local rink.
“This has been four years in the making,” said Awashish, who is completing his civil engineering degree while playing his final varsity season. “I just want to show the kids back home there are no limits to what they can achieve.”
Paying it forward
Mashteuiatsh, a home of the Pekuakamiulnuatsh First Nation on the shores of Lac Saint-Jean, is also the hometown of Francis Verreault-Paul, one of McGill’s greatest hockey players. A two-time Academic All-Canadian and McGill’s second all-time leading goal scorer, Verreault-Paul was inducted into the McGill Sports Hall of Fame in 2023. Earlier this year, he was elected Regional Chief of the Assembly of First Nations Quebec-Labrador (AFNQL).
“Miki told me once that I was a role model for him,” said Verreault-Paul. “That means a lot. For me, it was Jordin Tootoo who lit that spark. When I saw him play at the World Juniors in 2003, it changed everything. It made me believe it was possible. Now Miki is that person for the next generation.”
With support from McGill’s coaching staff and his community, Awashish has organized a two-day visit that includes on-ice sessions with local youth, a commemorative morning walk for Truth and Reconciliation Day on Tuesday, Sept. 30, and then the inter-university game at 4:30 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public.
Building the dream
The idea for the event first came to Awashish in 2022. That year, McGill’s teams wore orange tape and laces for Truth and Reconciliation. It was meaningful, but Awashish said he felt something was missing.
“I thought, this is good, but we could do more,” he said. “That’s when I brought up the idea of playing a game in my hometown. I’ve always wanted to give back through hockey.”
Delays and setbacks followed; tight planning windows, logistical hurdles, even a fire that shut down the local rink for nearly a year. But Awashish never gave up. Now, with months of preparation and wide support, the dream is finally becoming reality.
Head coach David Urquhart isn’t surprised.
“Miki is an outstanding person – poised, conscientious and a natural leader,” said Urquhart. “As a coach, it’s a pleasure to work with someone who you know is going to succeed on or off the ice. The sky’s the limit.”
More than a game
For many Indigenous youth, especially those from remote communities, the road to elite hockey is full of barriers: distance, cost, cultural gaps and the reality of racism.
“I was lucky,” said Awashish. “I lived close enough to access AAA programs. But a lot of kids in remote places don’t have that. And even when you do make it, you can still feel like you don’t fully belong.”
Verreault-Paul agrees: “The situation has improved, but racism in hockey hasn’t disappeared. That’s why representation and role models matter so much.”
The game is just one piece of a broader experience. On the Monday, McGill players will lead practices with local youth. On the Tuesday, the team will join community members for the Truth and Reconciliation Day walk and ceremonies with Elders; later, the mood will shift from reflection to celebration.
“There’s a healing process that happens with days like this,” said Awashish. “It starts with grief and reflection, but it can end with joy, especially through hockey, which means so much in our culture.”
Urquhart sees it as a learning opportunity for his players.
“This is about more than just a hockey game, it is about building connections and taking meaningful steps in reconciliation,” he said. “Many of our players will go on to leadership roles beyond hockey after they graduate. We hope this experience will create awareness of the importance of reconciliation and the importance of creating mutually respectful relationships.”
Looking ahead
As for Awashish, the future is wide open.
“I’d like to play pro hockey in Europe and then come back home and begin my career as an engineer,” he said. “But I’m also drawn to the political world. There’s so much happening in the First Nations space and I want to be part of it, even if I’m not sure how yet.”
Verreault-Paul has no doubt.
“Miki is mature, grounded and thoughtful,” he said. “Whatever path he chooses, he’ll make an impact.”
That impact begins Sept. 30 with a puck drop and a message that echoes far beyond the boards: You belong, you matter and you can fulfill your dreams, no matter how big.