Bach inspiring next generation of Indigenous girls

Victoria Bach’s face brightened as she spoke to the kids from the Little Native Hockey League at the Hockey Hall of Fame on Monday night. A flourishing pro with Toronto’s PWHL team, she sees herself in the aspiring players.

“I remember being that age and just hoping to be a hockey player one day,” Bach told the Star. “To be able to see the amount of young girls who maybe started playing hockey later in their life, being seen as a role model to them is really special.”

Celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, the league is hosting its annual tournament this week in Markham for players aged four to 17. With more than 4,000 players and coaches on 245 clubs, including 38 girls’ teams, it’s the largest Indigenous youth hockey tournament in Ontario.

The Milton-born Bach, a member of the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte First Nation, remembers being passionate and wanting to play hockey at an early age. But she was constantly told it was a boys’ game. When she was finally allowed to play, she remembers teachers being excited for the boys to go to hockey tournaments while she was the only one reminded to “not fall behind in school” because of the games.

“But I had the passion for the game and no one was getting in the way of me playing hockey,” she said. “That’s a part of my message to these young girls: Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do something.”

The hockey fire in Bach started when she watched Canada win gold at the 2002 Olympics. Almost two decades later, she won world championship gold in 2021, and again in 2022.

She had a delayed start to the PWHL season while she worked on her teaching degree, and reminded the girls Monday of the importance of education and taking valuable life lessons from the game.

“It’s about making memories that will last a lifetime. You go through highs and lows with your teammates,” she said.

Girls’ hockey has been one of the fastest growing sports in Canada, and the success of players like Bach is only going to inspire the next generations of Indigenous girls, said Chico Ralf, acting president of the Little Native Hockey League.

“This is something that is dear to our people,” Ralf said. “First Nations people, we have always loved playing hockey.

“Our tournament is unique ... because everyone comes, from uncles and aunties and cousins just watching their family members and support their communities. It’s overwhelming and I love to watch it every time I walk into the rink.”