OTTAWA -- A 9-year-old hockey player from a northern Quebec First Nation has caught the attention of the hockey world with his impressive trick-shot videos.
Washiiyeh Jeannotte of Algonquins of Barriere Lake, about 400 kilometres northwest of Montreal, has been honing his hockey skills on an outdoor rink after his season was halted due to rising cases of COVID-19 in the province.
鈥淚 started playing hockey when I was four and I like doing trick shots,鈥� Washiiyeh told 麻豆影视.
Washiiyeh has been posting videos of his moves to which include moves hockey fans would be familiar with: the Michigan, the spin-o-rama and the stickhandling through lines of pucks.
In one video, Washiiyeh challenges well-known 鈥渟tickhandling specialist鈥� Pavel Barber to the 鈥渕ost spins challenge,鈥� where the two spin around in a tight circle while holding a puck on their stick.
Washiiyeh before losing the puck, while Barber can only do 15.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 know how he does that,鈥� Barber . 鈥淚鈥檓 so dizzy.鈥�
Washiiyeh鈥檚 tricks have also caught the attention of the NHL, . The post received more than 120,000 likes and a message of support from former NHL player Scottie Upshall.
Washiiyeh dreams of one day playing in the NHL and following the footsteps of his heroes -- Indigenous players Jordin Tootoo, Ethan Bear and Carey Price -- but like many hockey players from First Nations鈥� communities, the barrier to success is much tougher to overcome.
For example, Washiiyeh must travel upwards of 90 minutes each way for practice and games with his team due to the remoteness of his home community.
鈥滻t's important not only for Washiieye here, but all Indigenous kids to have somebody to look up to,鈥� said Washiiyeh鈥檚 father Andrew Jeannotte. 鈥淭here鈥檚 not many in the NHL, but there are some and it gives you hope no matter where you're from that you can make it.鈥�
