Off to Wickfest
Rankin female players survive late scare to fundraising efforts
Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Wednesday, November 4, 2015
RANKIN INLET
The Rankin Rock female hockey team survived a late scare to beat the odds and raise $55,000 to return to Hayley Wickenheiser's Wickfest Female World Hockey Festival in Calgary, Alta., from Nov. 21 to 24.
Evelyn Autut, left, Joanna Anawak and Joy Angnetsiak led the way in proudly displaying the Rankin Rock colours at the Wickfest Female World Hockey Festival in Calgary, Alta., in November of 2014. - NNSL file photo |
Coach and fundraising co-ordinator Mikki Adams said the female players held events every week since their fundraising efforts began seven months ago.
She said the girls held bake sales, penny sales, dances, a jail bail and other events.
"We also sent out letters to businesses within our
community to see if they would be able to sponsor
our team," said Adams.
"Once again the generosity of our community came through and we received 17 donations from the Rankin Inlet business community.
"We have 15 girls going from Rankin, one from Whale Cove and one from Arviat.
"This tournament goes from mites to midgets and, since most of my girls are of midget age, we're in the midget division."
The girls will all play on the same team at the festival, proudly bearing the colours of the Rankin Rock.
Adams said the festival will be a first-time experience for nine of the girls on the Rankin team.
She said every player is excited about participating at the Wickfest festival.
"Playing in this event really helps build the girl's self-esteem and their self-confidence.
"They also benefit greatly from being able to socialize and network with other female hockey players.
"We had some girls a little overwhelmed during our first trip, especially among our younger girls because, for some of them, it was their first time travelling out of Rankin.
"They were a bit in awe, especially when we spent a day with Hayley (Wickenheiser) and were allowed to visit the trophies-of-champions room and see all the trophies Team Canada has won to date."
Adams said she was worried near the end of their fundraising when the airline code share happened between Calm Air and First Air.
She said the code share resulted in the team's expenses rising by about $15,000 when the price of each ticket went up to $1,300 from $700.
"Luckily, Hockey Nunavut and a few other businesses were able to step up and help us when we were told of the increase just two weeks before our payment deadline.
"We were even worried about one of our raffles, because our first place prize was a pair of tickets with First Air and, when we went to book them, we were informed they were null and void because of the code share.
"We were told we'd have to contact Calm Air and see if it would sponsor the tickets, and, like it always does, Calm Air pulled through for us.
"About 20 per cent of the parents helped fundraise but mostly it was the girls and I who did the work in raising the money, so I'm proud of each and every one of them."
