The 2021 National Aboriginal Hockey Championships, to be held in Winnipeg May 1-9 and hosted by the Manitoba Aboriginal Sports and Recreation Council, have been iced.

The Aboriginal Sports Circle (ASC), through its board of directors, passed the motion to cancel the tournament on Tuesday.

The decision to cancel next year's event was made with the health and safety of the players, volunteers, and fans.

"The health, safety, and well-being of our community is most important to the ASC, our board and the organizing committees," said ASC CEO, Carey Calder.

"While we are saddened to postpone this event due to the global pandemic, we look forward to a time when our athletes can hit the ice again to showcase their skills and pride for their regions when it is safe to do so."

The ASC is a collective of Provincial/Territorial Sport Bodies who guide the direction and establish its national priorities. They are Canada's national voice for Aboriginal sport, physical activity, and recreation bringing together the interests of First Nations, Inuit & Métis peoples.

In 2002, the ASC established the NAHC to serve as a premier competition for youth Indigenous hockey players in Canada. It provides a chance for 13-17-year-old male and female athletes from the 13 provinces and territories to compete.

This annual event helps foster cultural unity and pride as well as an opportunity to celebrate the athletic abilities of Indigenous athletes from across the country.

On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic. The ASC cancelled the 2020 NAHC in conjuncture with Hockey Canada, which cancelled its own sanctioned events.

"The difficult decision to recommend postponing the 2021 NAHC was presented by the Hockey Committee considering all available information and uncertainties along with the risk to not only the athletes but their communities," said Jeff Spencer, the ASC's Hockey Committee president. "But we believe it to be the right decision."(We) will continue to work hard to ensure the next edition of the NAHC is the best one yet."

The last time the National Aboriginal Hockey Championships was held was 2019, when Whitehorse hosted the tournament – it was the first time the event was hosted in any of the territories.