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Ojibwe sisters are hockey champs again
Kaiya, Grandpa Leslie, and Katierie Sandy after winning the 2023 state championship game in Minnesota. (Photo courtesy of Cindy Drost-Sandy)
The Sandy sisters are back-to-back Minnesota Class A state hockey champions at Warroad High School
Minnesota high school hockey players Katierie and Kaiya Sandy are Ojibwe from the Northwest Angle #33 in Canada. They competed at the varsity hockey level for the past few years and are now two time defending state champions.
The sisters helped Warroad High School, located in northern Minnesota not far from the Canadian border, to the 2022 and 2023 Class A Minnesota state hockey championships.
Warroad’s latest title came on Feb. 25 with a 3-1 victory over Orono High School at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. The Warriors finished its season with a 26-3-1 record. The program also had back-to-back state championships in 2010 and 2011.
“A highlight of the state tournament was scoring a breakaway goal in the championship game to increase our lead to 3-1,” Kaiya Sandy said.
“I am fortunate to play for Warroad High School,” Sandy said. “Our community fully embraces our Native American heritage. Being Native American gives me an extra sense of pride to carry this gift and request forward, many generations later.”
“I plan to work hard and play college hockey,” she added.
Older sister Katierie Sandy is a graduating senior.
“My major state tournament highlight was when my D partner and I broke it out of our defensive zone and made a pass to my younger sister for a breakaway, which she scored on in the championship game,” Katierie Sandy recalled.
“It makes me proud to represent our people, especially wearing the Warrior head on my jersey,” she said. “I hope younger Native American children can look up to me as a role model and for them to see that you can beat the stereotypes.”
Although soon to be a high school graduate, Katierie has her future plans in order.
“I am done with hockey now, as I just finished my senior season,” Sandy said. “I am now going on to nursing school and will continue to cheer on my younger sister who still plays.”
The sisters were inspired by Indigenous hockey talent that came before them. Warroad is known as a hockey hub. It’s known by many as “Hockeytown USA” and is home to several hockey legends who played professionally and in the Olympics.
Such hockey legends include the Gardner sisters, who were at the state championship to support the team and the Sandy sisters.
Kayla, Demi and Mariah Gardner, of the Migisi Sahgaigan (Eagle Lake First Nation) Ojibway, played youth hockey in Warroad, high school hockey, and eventually went on to play Division I hockey. The sister trio only played together one time on varsity and were runner-up at the state tournament.
“The Gardner sisters have always been my biggest Indigenous role models,” Katierie Sandy said. “I saw how good they were at hockey and that pushed me to make myself a better player.”
Kaiya said Demi Gardner “was a rockstar for our Warroad Warriors when I was very young. I looked up to her and she inspired me to work hard. I hope to follow in her footsteps and play college hockey.”
Kayla Gardner was a five-time Section 8A champion and back-to-back state champion in 2010 and 2011. She earned a full hockey scholarship to the University of North Dakota to play Division I hockey. She also played two years of professional hockey with the Calgary Inferno of the CWHL and overseas with the Brynäs IF of the SDHL. She was inducted to the inaugural 2022 North American Indigenous Athletics Hall of Fame.
Demi and Mariah played hockey at Minnesota State University, Mankato. In high school, Demi was a four-time Section 8A champion and Mariah was a three-time Section 8 A champion.
The Gardner sisters have words for advice for those who follow in their skate paths.
Demi Gardner: “Inspiring the younger generations is such a great feeling. It shows that the work I put in paid off and others can do the same, if not more! Times can be tough but do it for yourself and prove people wrong. Set your goals high and don’t give up on yourself because you never know who is watching you.”
Kayla Gardner: “It’s really cool to hear that my sisters and I have inspired younger hockey athletes. We trained hard to be able to perform at the best of our abilities and it’s rewarding to know that we’ve inspired other athletes to do the same. My sisters and I have always led by example.”
“We trained hard both on and off the ice, and we always motivated one another. I always enjoyed playing with my sisters and it was probably the highlight of my hockey career. Congrats to these two sisters and the rest of the Warroad Warriors on being state champions once again!”
Mariah Garnder: “It’s crazy to think that after so many years my sisters and I are continuing to inspire younger athletes. I think while playing the game you love, you don’t realize you’re inspiring others, but to know there’s people out there that look up to you is a special feeling.”
“It’s always great seeing Indigenous peoples and youth being successful, and in this case it’s winning the State Championship, congratulations ladies, well deserved!”
Watch a highlight video of the Warriors winning the state championship here: