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CORAL HARBOUR - When English teacher Andrew McDougall left Coral Harbour on paternity leave this past month, he did so with best wishes from many students and their hopes for time to pass quickly until his return.

Sakku School principal Francis Fitzgerald prepares to drop the puck for the recent Andrew McDougall Cup floor hockey tournament in Coral Harbour. - photo courtesy of Lee Hodgers

McDougall has taught at Sakku School since August 2007 and will return in January 2010 to complete the school year.

McDougall taught six different year levels at Sakku and put in countless hours on extracurricular activities.

He was involved with intramurals for Grades 5 through 8, badminton practice every Wednesday and his most endearing legacy, Friday night floor hockey.

Fellow teacher Lee Hodgers said a special Andrew McDougall Cup floor hockey tournament was organized in honour of his contributions to the school and his students shortly before he left.

He said McDougall's Friday night floor hockey was often the highlight of the week for some high school students.

"The teams would change every week and, more often than not, the games would last until about 6:30 p.m. every Friday," said Hodgers.

"The students gained a healthy appreciation for the effort McDougall put in and there would be an uproar, if for some reason, the weekly event couldn't be held.

"For the last tournament before McDougall left, the students played for a mock model of the Stanley Cup made of old coffee tubs and aluminum foil: the Andrew McDougall Cup."

A tournament in his honour came as a complete surprise to McDougall, who only found out about it when the cup was brought into the gym moments before the event was to begin.

The first team to win the cup comprised goalie Davidee Adams, Andy Nakoolak, David Paliak, Amelia Netser and Bernard Angootealuk.

Hodgers said the special trophy sent a clear message that McDougall had created something the students looked forward to every week and his efforts were to be acknowledged.

"Principal Francis Fitzgerald held a ceremonial puck-drop and said some words about sportsmanship, effort and camaraderie before the event.

"His words echoed the actions of McDougall every Friday night for the previous 18 months."