Ryan Francis

A proud member of Wasoqapaq First Nation has spent his whole life involved in the sport of Hockey. A very talented player in his younger days in the Cole Harbour Minor Hockey Association, and he finished up his competitive playing career in the NCAA Div.3 with Liberty University in Virginia, USA.

Ryan was Internationally recognized by the NHL as an important builder of Indigenous Girls Hockey, as he founded this milestone program here in Nova Scotia. Accordingly he was a Finalist for the Prestigious Willie O’ree Award for his efforts and commitment to the program.

Ryan has solidified Indigenous hockey opportunities for youth as a long time Coach of Team Atlantic for the National Aboriginal Hockey Championships

(NAHC). Most recently Ryan founded the Genevive Francis Memorial Fund in honor of his Grandmother to support Indigenous Women and Girls in sport, and the creation of Nikanus Red Dress Leadership Award.Nova Scotia Mi’kmaq Sport Hall of Fame is Honored to Induct Ryan Francis as a Builder.