Ziggy Beardy, project officer with the Sioux Lookout Area Aboriginal Management Board (SLAAMB http://www.slaamb.on.ca/profile ) shared with Dryden Rotary a short history of the L’ll Bands Hockey Tournament that is now held in Dryden for a week each February. 
 
Beardy, a former resident of Bearskin Lake moved to Sioux Lookout where he started the tournament with about 5 “ragtag” teams about 15 years ago. As interest grew, and the various tribal councils became more supportive, the tournament expanded for many years.
 
At first they only used the Sioux Lookout arena. Eventually, they added the Eagle Lake arena and moved back and forth between there and Sioux Lookout. As the tournament grew even more, the venue moved to Dryden with its two arenas, proximity to The Eagle Lake arena and its wealth of accommodation.
 
This year with over 900 children, plus the parents and coaches to house, teams stayed in motels from Vermilion Bay to Sioux Lookout.
 
(Ziggy Beardy with Rotary V.P. Carl E.)
 
 
With this winter’s poor ice road, one reserve had to charter a plane to fly players into Dryden and back at a cost of about $200,000. Roughly half the teams fly to Dryden while the rest drive.
 
Three years ago, a girls division was begun. The tournament now has five divisions starting at novice, and moving to atom, peewee, bantam, and midget.  
 
 
Ziggy closed by announcing that they will be returning to Dryden for 2017 tournament.