Big Snake known for his strikes
Robin Big Snake has become a fan favorite on almost every hockey team he has played on.
His unique name and the aggressive way he plays hockey are big reasons why he connects with fans.
When he played junior hockey in Vancouver, Big Snake's fans sat in a section nicknamed the Snake Pit. His fights have appeared on the popular Internet site YouTube the past two years.
On Tuesday, the Texas Brahmas signed the 23-year-old left wing.
Big Snake has spent his whole life on an Indian reservation in Siksika Nation (population 6,600) in Alberta, Canada. It's the second-largest reservation in Canada. He's half Cree and half Blackfoot. His father, Carlon, is Blackfoot and still plays recreational hockey at age 44. His mother, Lisa, is Cree. Her maiden name is Bear.
"Robin always wanted to be a standout player. He's like a warrior with the Indian tradition. He stands up for what he believes in," said Lisa. "That makes me proud."
Big Snake still enjoys hearing the legend about his last name.
"I'm pretty proud of my name," Big Snake said. "It definitely gets me a lot of attention in whatever I do, like ordering a pizza. From what I was told by my grandma, a young kid was lost from his tribe and was raised by a group of snakes. The little boy was named Big Snake after that. He was a relative back in the day."
Big Snake played the majority of the past two seasons with the United Hockey League's Rockford IceHogs in Illinois. The UHL is now part of the International Hockey League. He recorded 330 penalty minutes and 42 points (17 goals, 25 assists) in 67 games last season and recorded 423 penalty minutes and 46 points (27 goals, 19 assists) in 66 games in 2005-06.
"He's a young player who can really get this franchise going in a good direction," Brahmas coach Dan Wildfong said. "He doesn't just fight. He scores goals. Robin is going to put a little fear in a lot of other teams coming to our rink. Who wouldn't want to go check out a player named Big Snake?"
Big Snake said he picked up his aggressive style after playing with older players while growing up. He calls himself a police officer on the ice, but said he is a far different person off the ice.
"I don't like when people push my teammates around, but I'm probably one of the nicest guys you'll meet off the ice," Big Snake
said. "I'll talk to anyone."
