by By Dan Ninham (Oneida)
Bryden Sinclair is Oji-Cree and is from the Peguis First Nation in Manitoba. He grew up with a single mother, Tracy Sinclair. The Oji-Cree are Ojibwe and Cree.
“I just finished a season in Maryland with the Maryland Black Bears in the North American Hockey League,” said Byrden. “I plan on furthering my education and hockey at the University of Maine in NCAA D1 hockey.”
In a press release on September 5, 2019 announcing Bryden’s NCAA D1 commitment, Maryland Black Bears Head Coach Clint Mylymok said: “Maine plays in a very strong conference and is a program with great history and tradition. Maine is getting a quality person and player.”
Bryden won two gold medals in the National Aboriginal Hockey Championships in 2017 and 2019. He was awarded top defensemen in the 2019 tournament. He also earned a bronze medal in 2018.
“In my rookie junior year I played with the OCN Blizzard in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League and won top defensemen, top rookie and scholastic excellence,” said Bryden. He scored five goals and had 21 assists for the Blizzard.
“My grandpa Bruce Sinclair really influenced me with my hockey and helped me out a lot and shared a lot of his knowledge with me,” said Bryden. “Ever since I first started he was finding ways to help me to become a better hockey player weather it was giving me off ice drills, or on ice, or after games that he watches if he notices something and we chat about and it’s fixed, he just knows a lot about the sport.”
“I connect being indigenous to playing hockey by using the seven core values such as respect,” said Bryden. “I’m big on respect, like respecting my body, eating clean and exercising, getting proper sleep and all the little details as well.”
“I’m using all the resources that I’ve gained in the many years of hockey,” said Bryden. “This includes being with trainers and being with people that want to get you faster stronger and bigger. I put all that together and I formulate workouts for myself.”
“It’s important to be able to get a shot from the point to create scoring chances,” said Bryden. “Goalies are bigger and better now, so we’d need a screen in net and it’s a skill that takes a long time to get. I think I can develop it and keep getting better.”
“I get to express myself the most is when I’m on the ice,” said Bryden.
Photo Credit: Brian Collette
