One more step to go
Kivalliq Canucks seek first junior 'C' title in Nova Scotia
Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, March 19, 2014
KIVALLIQ
The Kivalliq Canucks will leave Rankin Inlet this coming Monday, March 24, to represent Nunavut at the MaritimeHockey North junior 'C' hockey championship in Liverpool, Nova Scotia.
Joseph Kopak, left, and Douglas Ollie will help anchor the defence for the Kivalliq Canucks, while Wendel Kaludjak, far right accepting the Challenge Cup from Hockey Nunavut president Darrin Nichol in Rankin Inlet this past month, will be counted on for big goals at the MaritimeHockey North junior 'C' championship in Liverpool, Nova Scotia, later this month. - NNSL file photo |
The tourney runs from March 26 to 30.
Kivalliq earned the right to represent Nunavut by defeating the Baffin and Kitikmeot in the Challenge Cup junior 'C' championship in Rankin this past month.
The Canucks will open against Prince Edward Island on March 26.
Other teams include the champion squads from New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, as well as host South Shore Wild.
The provincial champions will be decided in finals action this week.
The Canucks already replaced one player, with Iqaluit's Nate Gardener getting the call when Repulse Bay's Joey Nuluk informed head coach Donald Clark he couldn't make the trip.
Clark said he will carry 20 players, which is the maximum allowed per game.
He said his goaltending tandem of Cliff Kidlapik of Repulse and Josh Tartak of Rankin have big skates to fill in replacing Rankin's James Merritt, who was twice an allstar at the Maritime tourney.
"I like our defence this year, because we have guys who've played together a lot in the past few years," said Clark.
"Arviat's Douglas Ollie and Gary Jr. Kuksuk play well together and have been teamed up during most of the tournaments this year.
"It's the same for Repulse Bay's Joseph and Roy Kopak, so we should be pretty steady on the back end.
"We can also use Gardener on defence or move him up to take Joey's (Nuluk) spot at forward."
The Canucks have a tough act to follow after making it to the final for the first time in 2013, but Kivalliq should have the benefit of balanced scoring this year.
Big playmaking pivot Tyler Tattuinee centres the second line between Joe Jr. Karetak and Maneul Ukutak, to back the top unit of Wendel Kaludjak, Keith (Butch) Sigurdson and KJ Putulik.
Kivalliq should also get offensive contributions from Repulse's Jeff and DVon Siusangnark, who Clark may also call upon to shut down their opponents' top lines.
"I will be very disappointed if we don't, at least, make it into the playoff round," said Clark.
"I don't think we've ever lost to P.E.I. and we open against them, so that's already a crucial game for us.
"We've got our share of midgetaged players this year, who we need to be productive, and it will be interesting to see how they do at the junior level.
"That and our goaltending will be the key to how far we go down there."
