Babstock Raising Her Play and Indigenous Platform with Riveters
Published on June 21, 2022 under Premier Hockey Federation (PHF) News Release
Hockey has always been a passion for Kelly Babstock and a large part of her identity.
The 29-year-old forward who grew up in Mississauga, Ontario is one of the original members of the Premier Hockey Federation and among its top scorers of all-time. She just recently re-signed with the Metropolitan Riveters, and in the fall will compete in her seventh season in league history.
But more importantly, Babstock is Indigenous, and proud of her roots as a member of the Ojibwe First Nation from the Wiikwemkoong reserve, located on Manitoulin Island. In Canada, June is National Indigenous History Month and June 21 is National Indigenous Peoples Day which marks an occasion for all Canadians to recognize and celebrate the unique heritage, diverse cultures and outstanding contributions of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples.
It's a meaningful opportunity for Babstock to use her platform to help raise awareness.
"I want people to understand the history of Indigenous peoples, and this is a good day to reflect and recognize that history," Babstock said. "I want to use my voice to share why there are issues in our communities that stem from the government's Indian Act and residential schools. To this day there is still a lot of racism and stigmas around Indigenous communities. The healing process really starts with education and I want to do my part."
The Indian Act, which first passed in 1876, stripped First Nations peoples of their culture and forced children to attend residential schools away from their parents. It's a horrific system that amounted to cultural genocide and continued discovery of thousands of unmarked graves at sites of former schools across the country.
"There was a time Indigenous peoples couldn't speak their language or do traditional ceremonies," Babstock said. "I'm still learning and I want to encourage others to learn more, too. As I've grown older I've realized that not a lot of people understand the history or even know about it. This has shown me how important it is to speak about. I'm lucky right now to use my voice to share these messages, especially for those who never had the opportunity to use their voice."
When Babstock was growing up she played both of Canada's national sports competitively. Hockey, as well as lacrosse, remain big parts of her life away from the PHF through coaching programs in Connecticut where she helps inspire the next generation.
"Hockey is a good tool to give back to the community," she said. "I always promote playing and learning how to work with teams and for kids to grow confidence that way. Lacrosse, it's the Indigenous peoples' game, and that's what first motivated me to play and why it's so great to stay involved. It truly is good medicine. The fact that there are roots tied into it is very special to me. I think of my ancestors."
Babstock has always been a minority in hockey, with the exception of the infamous Little Native Hockey League, also known as the Little NHL. It's an annual tournament that brings together thousands from Indigenous communities across Ontario. She competed from Tyke through Bantam and during 45th anniversary celebrations in 2016 was inducted into its Hall of Fame. She hopes her influence can help more young girls looking to blaze their own trails in the game.
"In my career I had some obstacles, but I never let being Indigenous hold me back," she said. "One of my passions is to grow the game in the Indigenous community and provide more opportunities for these girls. There's a lot of natural talent but a lot of players in remote areas don't get the same opportunities or the funds as others to compete or travel where they can get noticed."
Babstock has coached in the National Aboriginal Hockey Championships and recently visited Saskatoon, Saskatchewan for a hockey summit that was also attended by Ted Nolan who is part of the new Toronto Six BIPOC ownership group. Staying true to her roots, before the COVID-19 pandemic Babstock brought her KB Hockey Camp to Espanola, Ontario and offered free training to youth from Wiikwemkoong.
She's grateful the game has carved a path to be a difference-maker in addition to providing her a professional career she will be continuing in 2022-23.
"I'm super excited for the opportunity to play hockey another year," Babstock said. "Being able to play means a lot to me. The work and the time, and the perseverance over the course of my career. I'm proud of myself and excited to keep on going."
Babstock turned pro immediately after a prolific NCAA career at Quinnipiac University, a place she was drawn to given its name with Indigenous heritage. Over her four years she set records in all offensive categories for the Bobcats that still stand today, and brought those skills to Connecticut where she became the first Canadian-born player to score a PHF goal in the franchise's very first game back in 2015. After three seasons with the Whale she joined the Buffalo Beauts for a single campaign, and after a year away has spent the last two seasons with the Riveters.
She finished fifth in team scoring last season with 13 points, bringing her career total to 75 points including 32 goals in 88 games. Her 75 points rank tied for fourth all-time, while her games played total is eighth most.
"It's amazing to see the growth of women's hockey and the league," she said. "I can see throughout my career how much it has improved and become more professional. It's a great place to play hockey to your highest limits. The higher salaries make it more motivating to play hockey as long as you can. Being a veteran is cool but every year it feels like it's my first year because I'm so excited."
While Babstock eagerly awaits another season, this summer she is excited to get back to where she was born, on Manitoulin Island. She'll spend time with her family in Wiikwemkoong and attend the yearly powwow the first weekend in August. She'll also reconnect with a community that has helped shape her and has never stopped cheering for her.
"People back home are proud of my accomplishments and that I'm still playing hockey," Babstock said. "It means a lot to them. It's a good feeling to make people proud, to be a role model and somebody to pave the way. That's something I'll always take with me with pride."
Premier Hockey Federation Stories from June 21, 2022
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