2 First Nations in Manitoba getting assist with hockey gear

The first of six pallets of donated hockey equipment heading up to Nisachawaseek Cree Nation, more than eight hours north of Winnipeg. The donations include hockey sticks, goalie gear, skates, and new clothes. They're from the Indigenous Hockey Equipment Drive, an initiative started by Graham McWatters in Ontario. He works with a charity called Their Opportunity. And we've been told by many Indigenous leaders across Canada and in the community community leaders that since we started giving hockey equipment to their communities, it's changed and saved lives. This is the third year equipment has been sent to First Nations in Manitoba. Seven pallets are also headed to Bloodvein River First Nation, roughly three and a half hours north of Winnipeg. Chief Lisa Young says it'll keep kids busy. To maintain a sober life and not get involved in drugs and alcohol and we've been pushing for that and encouraging So far, McWatters says they've donated 6,900 bags of hockey equipment to 83 Indigenous groups across Canada. Nisachawaseek Chief Cheryl Moore says the donations will help get more kids into the sport. This equipment will go to our children and I'm pretty sure the interest will gear up. You know, that equipment is here and say, you know what, I can grab the equipment and I'll play hockey. Young says hundreds of kids will benefit, but that's not all. We just recently started working with our older youth, our young adults, and bringing back our team. We've always had a team. It just kind of was laying quiet there for a while, and so we've brought hockey back. McWatters has been doing this work for 12 years. It's unbelievable. I feel like I'm Santa Claus. I just don't have the beard. I do have the tummy. He's retired, but plans to keep running the drive as long as he can. Alicia Wang, CBC News, Winnipeg.