**Ethan Bear: ( ᒪᐢᑲᐧ; Maskwa) The Indigenous Defenceman Who Refused to Stay Silent
They said kids from the Ochapowace Nation didn’t make it to the NHL.
But Ethan Bear didn’t listen.
He grew up on Treaty 4 Land, in Saskatchewan — a place where dreams froze before they had the chance to breathe.
Bear carved his own path through the cold — drafted *124th overall in 2015* by the Edmonton Oilers.
No big-city hype. No easy breaks. Just work.
In junior, he exploded.
**2016-17 WHL Defenceman of the Year.**
The Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy.
He wasn’t just playing hockey — he was reclaiming space that had been taken from Indigenous players for generations.
When he stepped onto NHL ice, he wore his name ** ᒪᐢᑲᐧ; Maskwa ** number 74
not for show, but for every kid who never saw their language on a jersey.
275 NHL games.
17 goals. 50 assists. 67 points.
He’s represented the **Edmonton Oilers**, **Carolina Hurricanes**, **Vancouver Canucks**, and **Washington Capitals**.
And when the league looked the other way, Bear didn’t disappear —
he rebuilt.
With Hershey in 2024-25, he posted **46 points in 62 games**, ranking among the top defencemen in the AHL.
Team Canada 2023 IIHF Worlds
Then came gold.
**2023 IIHF World Championship.**
From reserve road to world stage — Ethan Bear carried his Nation onto hockey’s biggest ice.
He’s more than a player.
He’s proof that identity and excellence can skate side-by-side.
This is Ethan Bear. ᒪᐢᑲᐧ; Maskwa
This is what it means to be **Frozen Out… and still rise.**
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