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RANKIN INLET
Repulse Bay withstood a furious comeback attempt to claim its first Polar Bear Plate hockey title with a 6-5 win over the Rankin Rock in front of a sold-out crowd at the Rankin Inlet arena this past weekend.

The outcome seemed certain when Harvey Jr. Taparti took a pass from Roy Kopak and scored a power-play goal with only 2:04 remaining in the game to put Naujaat up 6-3.

Rock star forward Wendel Kaludjak wasn't ready to concede defeat, however, and narrowed the gap to 6-4 with 1:25 remaining on a brilliant solo effort.

The Rock kept pressing and, with 28 seconds left to go, Kaludjak took a pass from Chris Tanuyak and went upstairs past Naujaat goalie Cliff Kidlapik to bring them within one, but that was as close as Rankin would get.

Tanuyak, Kris Okpatauyak and Brandyn Airut also scored for the Rock, while Taparti with three, Jeff Siusangnark with a pair and Joey Nuluk dented the twine for Repulse.

The Team Nunavut Arctic Winter Games midget squad downed an emotionally drained Baker Lake squad 8-3 to claim bronze at the event.

Semifinal action saw Repulse defeat Baker 5-4 in overtime, and the Rock get past Team Nunavut 5-3 to advance to the final.

Also competing were the Rankin Canucks, Coral Harbour, Whale Cove and Arviat.

The 2012 Polar Bear Plate was the most competitive in the history of the tourney, with the majority of games decided by two goals or fewer.

Rankin recreation co-ordinator David Clark organized the tournament.

He said the 2012 Plate owes a great deal of thanks to its numerous sponsors for making it such a success.

"Our sponsors, including Calm Air, came through for us big time this year," said Clark.

"Through the money we raised and the great travel rate given to us by Calm Air, not a single Kivalliq player, who came in from any of the other communities, had to pay to play in this tournament.

"We saw some really good hockey played, the referees did a great job and the arena staff also did a great job in keeping the ice good.

"We sold all our weekend passes, and, it didn't matter which teams were playing, it was standing-room only from the first games played Thursday night until the final game on Sunday."

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