By By Sam Laskaris, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Windspeaker.com

Naim Cardinal is once again finding out just how generous fellow hockey card collectors can be.

Cardinal, a member of Tallcree First Nation in Alberta, has earned notice in the sports card collecting industry in recent years.

That香蕉视频直播檚 because he is believed to be the first individual to start a unique collection. Back in 2014 he started amassing rookie cards for Indigenous players that have suited up for at least one game in the National Hockey League (NHL).

Cardinal香蕉视频直播檚 latest venture, which he began last month, is the Base Cards For Kids Project. Base cards are regular cards that come in hockey card packs. He put out a call for other collectors to send him any cards they are willing to part with of any Indigenous players who toiled in the NHL.

Cardinal then plans to ship out all the cards he receives so that they can be distributed to Indigenous youth players that attend hockey camps or clinics across the country.

香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檝e been thinking about it for awhile and trying to find a way to give back to the community,香蕉视频直播� said Cardinal, a 39-year-old who lives in Kelowna and works as an education facilitator at the University of British Columbia香蕉视频直播檚 Okanagan campus.

Cardinal had initiated a somewhat similar venture back in 2018. He knew that Moose Cree First Nation would be hosting the popular Little NHL tournament that year in Mississauga, Ont.

And Cardinal found out that former NHL star Jonathan Cheechoo, a member of Moose Cree First Nation, would be making several appearances throughout the youth Indigenous tournament.

Cardinal put out a call, primarily to some collecting contacts, to see if they had any extra Cheechoo cards they would part with. He ended up receiving close to 400 cards, which he then shipped to tournament organizers, who then shared them with event participants.

Before putting out the request for others to send him cards for his latest project, Cardinal contacted some current and elite players who run their own camps and clinics.

Among those he got in touch with were 3Nolans, a business operated by former NHL player and coach Ted Nolan and his two sons, Jordan and Brandon, who also both played in the NHL.

Others that Cardinal contacted include Wacey Rabbit, a member of Kainai Nation in Alberta, who is currently toiling with the ECHL香蕉视频直播檚 Jacksonville Icemen, and Devin Buffalo, a member of Samson Cree Nation in Alberta and a former ECHL goaltender.

Though he香蕉视频直播檚 still playing in the pro ranks, Rabbit launched his own company last year, WR20 Power Skills On Ice Development. Buffalo also started his own business in 2020, Waniska Athletics, a company which offers varying services including goalie skills clinics.

香蕉视频直播淭hey all wanted to be a part of it,香蕉视频直播� Cardinal said of the current and former players who are keen to distribute cards at the camps. 香蕉视频直播淎fter I contacted them and they said yes, that香蕉视频直播檚 when I started collecting.香蕉视频直播�

Cardinal said if others are interested he香蕉视频直播檚 also willing to ship cards to other hockey camps in Indigenous communities.

Though his request was simply for base cards, Cardinal has been receiving much more than that. Some collectors are sending him autographed cards. He香蕉视频直播檚 also received vintage cards and jersey cards (ones that include a snippet of a player香蕉视频直播檚 shirt).

香蕉视频直播淚 was thinking I might be able to get 2,000 cards,香蕉视频直播� said Cardinal, who put out the word he was seeking cards just over three weeks ago. 香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e halfway there now.香蕉视频直播�

Cardinal has received packages from collectors in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario and Quebec.

He香蕉视频直播檚 also received some cards from collectors in a pair of states, California and Oregon.

One of his friends, fellow collector Brett Miles from Calgary, shipped a total of 465 cards to Cardinal.

香蕉视频直播淚 was blown away,香蕉视频直播� Cardinal said. 香蕉视频直播淗e had said `I香蕉视频直播檓 sending a few cards香蕉视频直播�.香蕉视频直播�

Cardinal said all those that have been sending out packages have been paying shipping costs themselves.

香蕉视频直播淚 was really thankful they香蕉视频直播檙e willing to do that,香蕉视频直播� he said.

The oldest card, sent to him from a collector from Enoch Cree Nation, is a 1970-71 O-Pee-Chee card of former Toronto Maple Leafs香蕉视频直播� captain George Armstrong.

Cardinal estimates the Armstrong card is worth $10.

Other collectors sent Cardinal rookie cards of former and current players, including Theo Fleury, Jordan Nolan, Ethan Bear and Zach Whitecloud.

Cardinal said he will have no idea which hockey camper ends up with certain cards. He plans to make packs featuring 10 cards for each camper.

香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 just going to randomly make packs together,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 just going to be a random thing.香蕉视频直播�

Cardinal is also planning to place a personalized inspirational message in each pack.

香蕉视频直播淚 thought it would be a good way to get kids into collecting,香蕉视频直播� he said, adding he香蕉视频直播檚 hoping young players will also be inspired to further their own hockey dreams.

Those who might be able to assist Cardinal with his Base Cards For Kids Project can reach him via email at indigenousrookiecards鈫昰mail.com or send him a direct message on Instagram through or his Twitter handle .

READ MORE: Central Okanagan School District registers surplus for Indigenous student spending

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