Fred Sasakamoose

Early life Sasakamoose was born in the Big River First Nation to Roderick and Judith Sasakamoose, and grew up on the Ahtahkakoop Indian Reserve in Saskatchewan. At his birth, he was given a Cree name by an elder which when translated, means "to stand firm". In his early years, Sasakamoose developed a close relationship with his paternal grandfather, Alexander Sasakamoose, who could neither speak nor hear. As a five year old, the young Sasakamoose was taught how to skate by his grandfather, who had tied bob skates over the young boys moccasins. He was one of 11 children, of whom six died in childhood from smallpox. When he was six years old, Canadian authorities forced Sasakamoose and his brother into a truck and took them to an Indian residential school in Duck Lake, Saskatchewan. It was there he learned to play ice hockey.

He is the great-great nephew of Chief Ahtahkakoop, who was brother to his great-grandfather Sasakamoose.

Hockey career In 1944 Sasakamoose joined the Duck Lake ice hockey team. Sasakamoose's skills were first recognized by a priest in Montreal who became the sports director at the Indian residential school Sasakamoose was attending. The priest pushed Sasakamoose to improve himself, and he developed an extraordinary left-handed shot as a result. Sasakamoose had a troubled time at the school: when he was nine he was raped by fellow students, and detailed other punishments by the school officials. While Sasakamoose became one of the star players on the school's team, he left Duck Lake at the age of 15 and so feared returning to the school that he didn't believe at first when a priest had a hockey scout visit his home.

Ultimately Sasakamoose did meet the scout, and at the age of 16 joined the junior Moose Jaw Canucks, who played in the Western Canada Junior Hockey League.

Post-hockey life After retiring from ice hockey, Sasakamoose became a band councilor of the Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation, serving for 35 years, and spent one term (6 years) as Chief. He was also extensively involved in the development of sports programs for Indigenous children. He was also inducted into the Prince Albert Sports Hall of Fame, Meadow Lake Wall of Fame, FSIN Circle of Honour, and the Canadian Native Hockey Hall of Fame. He was acknowledged for achievements and contributions by both the Assembly of First Nations and the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations (FSIN).

Death Sasakamoose was admitted to hospital in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, where he was diagnosed with COVID-19 on November 20, 2020. He died four days later due to complications from the virus during the COVID-19 pandemic in Saskatchewan. He was buried at the Ahtahkakoop First Nation Cemetery in Ahtakhakoop, Saskatchewan.

He married Loretta Isbister in 1955, and had nine children. Regular seasonPlayoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1950–51 Moose Jaw Canucks WCJHL 18 7 7 14 9 — — — — — 1951–52 Moose Jaw Canucks WCJHL 42 19 22 41 59 — — — — — 1952–53 Moose Jaw Canucks WJHL 36 18 17 35 40 9 7 5 12 4 1953–54 Moose Jaw Canucks WJHL 34 31 26 57 56 5 4 2 6 8 1953–54 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 11 61 42 5 600 — — — — — 1954–55 New Westminster Royals WHL 21 3 8 11 6 — — — — — 1954–55 Chicoutimi Sagueneens QHL 22 4 4 8 2 6 2 1 3 2 1955–56 Calgary Stampeders WHL 2 0 0 0 2 — — — — — 1956–57 Kamloops Chiefs OSHL 23 7 10 17 36 — — — — — 1957–58 Kamloops Chiefs OSHL 51 26 27 53 63 15 7 6 13 34 1958–59 Kamloops Chiefs OSHL 20 10 20 30 42 5 0 0 0 0 1960–61 North Battleford Beavers SIHA — — — — — — — — — — NHL totals 11 0 0 0 6 — — — — —