Members of the 2023/24 U13 T-1 Nanaimo Clippers will where these specialty orange jerseys on Sunday, Dec. 17. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

Orange Jerseys

‘Our team is like a family:’ Nanaimo team to wear Orange Jersey Project jerseys

Dec 17, 2023 | 6:54 AM

NANAIMO — Wins have been piling up for the Nanaimo U13 Tier 1 Clippers this season, and so has the team’s identity off the ice.

The Nanaimo Minor Hockey club is participating in the Orange Jersey Project, which will see them where specialty jerseys in an exhibition game this weekend.

Ryson Barker was born and raised in Port Alberni, while his family belongs to the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation near Tofino.

The 12-year-old defenceman said his grandmother is a residential school survivor.

“It was pretty scary for her, she said some of her friends and family did not make it out alive, it was bad for them, but she’s going to be pretty excited that I’m doing this,” Barker told NanaimoNewsNOW.

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He said he and his teammates are excited for the opportunity to wear orange jerseys to raise awareness of the lasting harms caused by residential schools.

As one of two Indigenous players on the team, Barker said all of the players, parents and coaches have been rallying behind the Orange Jersey Project cause.

“Our team’s like a family, one person does something, we all do something – it’s pretty cool,” Barker told NanaimoNewsNOW.

Fellow Clippers U13 T-1 defenceman Logan Launay has a few family members who are residential school survivors, stating those experiences seemed quite horrifying.

Born and raised in Nanaimo with family ties to a reserve near Chase, B.C., Launay believes wearing the orange jerseys will help create more understanding among Indigenous and non-Indigenous players.

“I think it would be pretty beneficial to the team and everybody else,” Launay said.

Ryson Barker (L) and Logan Launey (R) following U13 T-1 Clippers practice on Thursday, Dec. 14 at Frank Crane Arena. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Head coach Tyler Gow said supporting the orange jersey initiative was an easy cause to get behind.

“It’s a great opportunity for us as a team to give our players and the broader community more awareness on this important issue, he said.

Gow’s U13 T-1 Clippers will debut the specialty orange jersey’s in an exhibition game on Sunday, Dec. 17 at 1:45 p.m. at Frank Crane Arena versus the Victoria Admirals.

The team has a combined 30-3 record in league, exhibition and tournament games so far this season.

In addition to sharing the history of Canada’s residential school system, the Orange Jersey Project aims to promote truth and reconciliation, as well as physical and mental wellness among youth through sport.

More information on the initiative can be found here.

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Ian.holmes@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes