Inspired by Jordan Nolan’s NHL success

Jordan Nolan’s accomplishment of winning the Stanley Cup and then sharing that victory with his community of Garden River First Nation resonated through First Nations across the north.
Hundreds of people gathered in Garden River to welcome Nolan when he brought the Stanley Cup to the community on Aug. 20.
Among them were Pauline Mickelson and her family, who drove eight hours from Thunder Bay to see Nolan and the Stanley Cup.
As Mickelson said, to many First Nations people Nolan’s victory was more than just a young man winning hockey’s biggest prize.
“When you look at the history of our people, and then when we see one of our own people realize his dream, it’s inspiring,” Mickelson said. “I believe they are not doing it just for themselves, but they are doing it for our entire people.”
Nolan’s father Ted, a former NHL player and former NHL coach, said something similar when describing to Wawatay what it was like to see his son win the Stanley Cup.
“Some of the things that our people went through and what have you, and all of a sudden you see one of our own with the Stanley Cup and bring it to a First Nations community,” Ted Nolan said. “It’s something that still sends chills down your back.”
Mickelson said there was no hesitation to pile the entire family into their truck and drive to Garden River for the parade. The family understood it was a once in a lifetime experience to see something like that, and she did not want her children to miss out on the opportunity.
For Mickelson’s daughter Sarah, a 14-year-old gymnast, the chance to see Nolan and the Stanley Cup up close has inspired her to push for her own dreams.
Sarah now says she wants to be in the Olympics someday.
“When I saw Jordan Nolan, that’s just telling me not to give up,” Sarah said. “It shows that a lot of people can really get far, can achieve anything if they never give up.”
Mickelson’s other daughter, Marissa McPherson, said she had “pins and needles” when she met Nolan.
McPherson said in her life she has seen a lot of First Nations people who are really good at playing hockey, but who just do not seem to reach that higher level. She said Nolan’s example may inspire others across the north to take that final step.
“(Nolan) shows that if they want to go further, they can do it if they really want it,” McPherson said.
As for McPherson’s daughter Teairra, who gave Nolan two big hugs when she met him, the experience could be summed up in one word: “awesome.”
The excitement and inspiration that her children and grandchildren had from the experience left Mickelson even more enthused about Nolan’s accomplishments.
“I wanted my children to be a part of history, and to have something that they can hold onto that we did as a family,” Mickelson said. “And it was wonderful to see all of our people there.”
“It shows the kids that they can do whatever they want to do,” she added.
And as she experienced the parade and seeing the Stanley Cup up close with her family, Mickelson was thinking of the rest of her extended family across the North.
“All my brothers played hockey,” she said. “When he raised the Cup (in Garden River) I thought about all my brothers playing hockey outside in -40, and I thought about all my brother’s children now playing hockey in arenas, so I took that picture and I dedicated it to them.”