Chief Kelly Wolfe of Muskeg Lake Cree Nation brought a bold vision to Saskatoon city council on Wednesday: a professional hockey team as part of the Downtown Event and Entertainment District (DEED). During discussions about a potential partnership between the First Nation and the city, Wolfe suggested the DEED could host an American Hockey League team or even an expansion franchise.
Dreaming Big for Saskatoon
“Imagine Saskatoon being home to a professional hockey team,” Wolfe told council, emphasizing that DEED discussions are still in early stages but the nation always “dreams big.” He also floated the idea of Saskatoon hosting the World Juniors again, as it did in 1991 and 2010. Wolfe stressed that Muskeg Lake did not come to fail, pointing to the nation’s track record of successful partnerships.
Muskeg Lake Cree Nation formally requested that the city enter into discussions about a DEED partnership. Wolfe described this as an opportunity to strengthen both the city’s and the First Nation’s economies, noting previous collaborations that have benefited both sides.
Economic Strength and Track Record
“Our urban reserve is home to over 700 employees, Indigenous and non-Indigenous,” Wolfe said. He highlighted the Lakeside Medical Centre, located on urban reserve property, as Saskatchewan’s largest medical centre of its kind, with over 50 doctors and 60,000 patient visits per year. According to Wolfe, Muskeg Lake Cree Nation has a net worth exceeding $100 million, with at least $80 million in capital investments.
City manager Jeff Jorgenson praised the potential partnership, noting that Muskeg Lake is a trusted partner. He added that if the city opened discussions to other offers, priority would go to a First Nation that is part of the Saskatoon Tribal Council—Muskeg Lake is a member and has support from all other nations on the council.
Previous DEED Deal and New Opportunity
Councillor Randy Donauer pointed out that any party, including First Nations, could have submitted a proposal during the earlier Request for Proposal process, which selected U.S.-based Oak View Group (OVG). However, council terminated that private partnership agreement in March after OVG’s former chairman was pardoned by President Donald Trump following bid-rigging accusations by the U.S. Department of Justice.
City solicitor Cindy Yelland noted that the Muskeg Lake proposal differs from the OVG deal. Some councillors, like Robert Pearce, expressed concern that the city might be skipping a step by not soliciting other offers. Jorgenson countered that an expression of interest process would likely still result in Muskeg Lake being chosen based on its qualifications.
Council Unanimously Approves Discussions
Despite the concerns, council voted unanimously to direct city administration to begin discussions with Muskeg Lake Cree Nation. Wolfe said he is in talks with several developers to secure the best deal for Saskatoon, adding that everyone at council shares the best interests of their communities.
