Closing ceremonies bring official end to Winter Games
The flame is out and athletes are on their way back home with inspirational words from Fred Sasakamoose as the 2018 Saskatchewan Winter games are officially in the books.
Closing ceremonies were held at the Civic Centre in North Battleford Saturday afternoon. Ex-NHLer and first Indigenous NHL player Fred Saskamoose addressed athletes with his own story.
“I was once chasing the impossible dream of an Indian boy,” Sasakamoose said. “An impossible dream I didn’t think was made for me. You too, the young dreamers, can make it possible.
“My grandfather couldn’t talk and couldn’t hear, but he took me to the sloughs with my bob skates and said to me ‘I’m going to make a champion out of you.’ In 1948 and 49, we won the Saskatchewan Midget Championships. It was then my dream became a reality; to be a hockey player.”