Fred Sasakamoose: Trailblazing Indigenous NHL Player and Community Leader

Fred Sasakamoose: Trailblazing Indigenous NHL Player and Community Leader

Fred Sasakamoose was a trailblazing Canadian ice hockey player. He was celebrated for being one of the first Indigenous players in the National Hockey League (NHL). Born on December 25, 1933, in Debden, Saskatchewan, Sasakamoose grew up in the Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation.

In 1940, Six-year-old Fred Sasakamoose and his 8-year-old brother, Frank, were forcefully taken from their parents by Indian agents from the Canadian government and thrown into a truck and taken to an Indian residential school where he honed his skills in ice hockey.

For Fred, hockey was a way out of the injustice he endured. In 1944, Father Georges Roussel, a French-Canadian priest who had just arrived from the hockey-crazed city of Montreal, introduced hockey at St. Michael’s. “He was just like a father, Father Roussel,” Fred says. “You know, he cared. And he came to me and said, ‘Freddy, I’m going to make a champion out of you.’ “

Despite the challenges he faced, including the loss of several siblings to smallpox and the traumatic experiences at the residential school, Sasakamoose’s talent on the ice did not go unnoticed. His exceptional left-handed shot and his agility quickly made him a standout player.

Sasakamoose’s journey to the NHL began with the Moose Jaw Canucks in the Western Canada Junior Hockey League, where his performance earned him the league’s most valuable player award.

In 1953, at the end of Fred’s fourth and final season of junior hockey eligibility, Fred and the Moose Jaw Canucks lost to the Regina Pats in the playoffs. After the game, Fred’s team headed into the dressing room. There, Fred would get some news that would change his life.

“Father George walked in,” Fred says. “He said, ‘Don’t take your stuff off. There’s an announcement to be made.’ ‘Fred Sasakamoose — report immediately to Chicago Blackhawks.’ Wow. The room just went still.”

In 1953, he made his NHL debut with the Chicago Black Hawks, becoming the first First Nations player with treaty status to compete at this level. On Nov. 20, 1953, Fred played his first game with the Blackhawks. A 2-0 home loss to the Boston Bruins.

Although his time in the NHL was brief, playing only 11 games, his impact was lasting. He was one of the first Canadian Indigenous players in the National Hockey League and the first First Nations player with treaty status. With fewer than ten percent of NHL players of Indigenous descent, Fred Sasakamoose paved the way for future Indigenous players.

Sasakamoose was an example to future Indigenous players like Carey Price, Jordan Tootoo, and Gino Odjick.

In the National Hockey League’s history, approximately 85 players of native ancestry have played in the NHL. Five are active: T.J. Oshie, Washington Capitals; Ethan Bear, Washington Capitals; Zack Whitecloud, Vegas Golden Knights; Brandon Montour, Florida Panthers; and Travis Hamonic, Ottawa Senators.

By the NHL’s estimates, only about 85 players of native ancestry have ever played in the league. In percentage terms, that amounts to just over 1% of the 7,600 players believed to have played in the league over its century-long history.

After retiring from professional hockey in 1960, Sasakamoose dedicated his life to giving back to his community and advocating for Indigenous youth. His post-hockey career was as impactful as his time on the ice. Sasakamoose served as chief of the Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation and was deeply involved in Indigenous affairs. His efforts were recognized with numerous honors, including his induction into several sports halls of fame and his designation as a member of the Order of Canada.

Sasakamoose’s legacy extends beyond his athletic achievements; he is remembered as a community leader, a role model for Indigenous youth, and a pioneer who broke barriers and paved the way for future generations of Indigenous athletes. His legacy is honored with a statue at SaskTel Centre in Saskatoon, unveiled to stand proudly facing the statue of Gordie Howe, another hockey legend.

His story is one of perseverance, leadership, and the power of sport to inspire and transform lives. Fred Sasakamoose cried as he watched “Indian Horse” at a screening in April 2018. The movie is the fictional story of a First Nations boy—a survivor of Canada’s notorious Catholic residential schools—and his difficult path to adulthood and hockey fame on the big screen. The movie depicted experiences similar to what Fred Sasakamoose endured in the Catholic residential school system.

Fred Sasakamoose passed away on November 24, 2020, but his legacy inspires and resonates within the hockey community and beyond. The Assembly of First Nations and the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations (FSIN) acknowledged his achievements and contributions.

At the time of his death, Sasakamoose’s memoir, Call Me Indian, was being finished and had a scheduled release date of April 6, 2021.

Career Statistics Fred Sasakamoose: Trailblazing Indigenous NHL Player and Community Leader

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				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1950–51	Moose Jaw Canucks	WCJHL		18	7	7	14	9		—	—	—	—	—
1951–52	Moose Jaw Canucks	WCJHL		42	19	22	41	59		—	—	—	—	—
1952–53	Moose Jaw Canucks	WJHL		36	18	17	35	40		9	7	5	12	4
1953–54	Moose Jaw Canucks	WJHL		34	31	26	57	56		5	4	2	6	8
1953–54	Chicago Black Hawks	NHL		11	0	0	0	6		—	—	—	—	—
1954–55	New Westminster Royals	WHL		21	3	8	11	6		—	—	—	—	—
1954–55	Chicoutimi Sagueneens	QHL		22	4	4	8	2		6	2	1	3	2
1955–56	Calgary Stampeders	WHL		2	0	0	0	2		—	—	—	—	—
1956–57	Kamloops Chiefs	OSHL		23	7	10	17	36		—	—	—	—	—
1957–58	Kamloops Chiefs	OSHL		51	26	27	53	63		15	7	6	13	34
1958–59	Kamloops Chiefs	OSHL		20	10	20	30	42		5	0	0	0	0
1960–61	North Battleford Beavers	SIHA		—	—	—	—	—		—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				11	0	0	0	6		—	—	—	—	—

Keep Your Stick on the Ice.

Fred Sasakamoose: Trailblazing Indigenous NHL Player and Community Leader

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