KIVALLIQ
Arviat's Eskimo Point Lumber Supply nipped the Rankin Miners 5-4 to claim the Sakku First Aviation Avataq Cup senior men's hockey championship in Rankin Inlet earlier this month.
Harry Kuksuk lifts the trophy high in the air during Arviat Eskimo Point Lumber Supply's victory celebration after capturing the team's first Sakku First Aviation Avataq Cup at the senior men's hockey championship in Rankin Inlet earlier this month. - Darrell Greer/NNSL photo
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Rankin's Huka Inuks outlasted Repulse Bay 12-9 to claim bronze at the event.
Also competing were Coral Harbour, Whale Cove, Chesterfield Inlet, Baker Lake and Rankin's Team Todd.
Arviat's Kelly Owlijoot was named the Avataq's Most Valuable Player and took the Kivalliq News Official's Award for his skill and sportsmanship at the event.
Owlijoot said he began to believe Arviat could go all the way when they recovered from a loss to Whale Cove to dump Baker Lake and then shutout defending champ Repulse in round-robin play.
He said once they eliminated Coral and Repulse in the playoffs, they didn't care who they met in the final.
"When you get that far, you concentrate on your own game and don't worry about who you're playing," said Owlijoot.
"It's the same with that crazy crowd in Rankin -- you zone-out the fans to concentrate on what kind of hockey you want to play.
"After we defeated Repulse in the semifinal, we knew it was going to be us against Huka or the Miners.
"Our mindset was it didn't really matter who we played, as long as we played our best in the final."
Arviat has played in the Avataq every year since it began, but 2013 was the team's first title at the event.
Owlijoot said the team kept coming back every year for the competition.
He said in his opinion, nothing comes close to the Avataq, which brings every Kivalliq team to the region's hockey hub, Rankin Inlet.
"We love our own tournament (JLM), but it's the level of competition at the Avataq that's so special.
"It's a lot of fun to play in and it really tests your skill as a hockey player.
"Rankin's arena is loud and not easy to play in, especially if you're playing a Rankin team.
"But you get your mind made up that nothing's going to bother you, and that includes the fans and what the other team's doing, so you can focus on what you're trying to accomplish."
Owlijoot said the Arviat players may have missed a year physically playing hockey with their arena closed this past year, but they never stopped playing in their hearts or minds.
He said one big difference this year was that Arviat was hungry!
"We kept saying in our dressing room we had to be hungrier than the other team, and it really showed on the ice.
"We were getting to the loose pucks, skating hard and playing with discipline.
"In the past, the Arviat team was known to party at the Avataq because we're a dry community and Rankin has all that booze.
"This year we told everyone not to drink, and that played a major role in finally being able to bring the Avataq Cup back to Arviat with us."
Team captain Gleason Uppahuak said a big parade was held in Arviat shortly after the team won the final game.
He said it's a great feeling to know the community supports its players so much.
"Quite a few of my friends sent me texts and messages about the community wanting to hold another parade for us this past week," said Uppahuak.
"The parade was to celebrate both our Jon Lindell Memorial and Avataq wins.
"They wanted to show we had a lot of support in the community and they're happy with us.
"We weren't sure what to expect, but it was just awesome."
Uppahuak said about 70 or 80 vehicles took part in the team parade.
He said the players had a lot of fun and will remember the day for a long time.
"It was so depressing and sad when we had to close our arena this past fall when renovations went wrong.
"When it finally opened this fall, we started planning and preparing for the big tournaments from day one.
"Our determination and focus on just playing the game and not letting anything bother us really helped.
"A positive attitude just seemed to come along with us and, with every game we won, our confidence just grew stronger and stronger."
Uppahuak said the team shook up its lines after Whale Cove stung them in the first game.
He said the adjustments worked well against Baker, and the team kept getting stronger as the tournament went on.
"By the time we reached the final we were confident no one could stop us.
"Everyone was pumped because we realized this was our year and we had to do it.
"Everyone knows how good the Miners are, but we didn't look back at what happened in previous years because that's over.
"After more than a decade of trying, finally, we got it done and Arviat is Avataq champion!"
