Dailleboust wins Tom Longboat Regional Award

Kahnawa’kehró:non hockey player Bocephus Dailleboust has won the Tom Longboat Regional Award for Quebec.

He is currently in his first year playing in the United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL)’s Elite division for the Islanders Hockey Club in Boston, Massachusetts. Before that, he played for two years at the Ontario Hockey Academy.

Carla Diabo, Bocephus’ mother, said that the Aboriginal Sports Circle (ASC)’s senior programs and events coordinator Krista Hodder sent Carla an email, asking to confirm some of Bocephus’ information for the Tom Longboat Award nomination process. That email came after the end of the nomination period in late August.

“I told her ‘Oh, the deadline already passed,’ but she said he had already been nominated,” said Carla, who was not told who had nominated Bocephus - in fact, they still do not know who nominated him, as neither he nor his mother did so.

“I filled in all the documents and sent the email back, and we didn’t hear anything for a little bit,” said Diabo.

Then, she did receive an email, but not one she was expecting.

“I thought it was going to be something like ‘You were nominated, and your application went in. But no, I got the email saying he won it!”

Unfortunately, Bocephus will not be able to receive his award in person on November 23, due to a scheduling conflict with a four-day prospects showcase happening the same weekend.

Carla said that at first, Bocephus was worried that they would not choose him if he could not make it in-person. But a second communication from ASC congratulated him for his dedication to his team and the sport.

The award is given out annually by the ASC to Indigenous athletes who are recognized “not only for their athletic achievements but also for their commitment to sportsmanship, fair play, and being positive role models,” according to the ASC.

This year is the reintroduction of the regional awards after years of only naming two national winners - one male and one female. The two national winners will be chosen from the list of regional winners.

The award is named after Tom Longboat, an Onondaga long-distance runner who became world famous in the early 20th century, including for winning the 1907 Boston Marathon.

Carla said that once she saw the history of the award - given since 1951 - and of Longboat himself, she and Bocephus understood just how big of an achievement this was.

Many of the athletes who have won the award have gone on to have long, successful careers - including NHL player Jordin Tootoo, women’s Olympic hockey team player Brigette Lacquette, and Kahnawa’kehró:non water polo player Waneek Horn-Miller.

“It’s a tremendous accomplishment,” said Carla.

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