INUVIK
The 15th Annual Gwich'in Cup broke records last week, with more than 200 players from the Beaufort Delta registered to play, the most ever.

Cody Greenland, top centre, tries to get past defending Tuk players Teryn Kassi, left, and Dawson Elias in the final Feb. 28. - Sarah Ladik/NNSL photos

"We try to include everyone in the Beaufort Delta and to have the biggest tournament possible in the region," said Inuvik Minor Hockey president Carolyn Hunter.

"Even though our hockey numbers seem to be going down a bit, the Gwich'in Cup seems to be growing."

Teams at Novice, Atom, Peewee, Bantam and Midget levels vied for supremacy. All but the last category combined players from across the region into new teams, in part to boost the number of people who could play, and in part to encourage them to get to know each other.

"In the past, each community would put together a team," Hunter said, explaining that by pooling all the players and then forming teams allowed smaller communities to participate without having to find a full bench.

"The reality is they'll play together in future tournaments; your opponent today is your teammate tomorrow in a place like this."

Hunter said the change, implemented a few years ago, has been hard work, but ultimately worth it and well-received.

"We want to thank the Gwich'in Tribal Council," she told players and family members gathered in the community hall after the tournament wrapped up on Feb. 28 for the awards ceremony.

"They've been supporting the youth tournament for a decade and half. It may have changed, but it's a tradition we want to continue."

The rivalry, however, is still fierce at the Midget level, where the team from Tuktoyaktuk defeated the hometown representatives in the final, with the team from Aklavik and Fort McPherson coming in third.

"It's been a good tournament overall," said Alex Skinner from the Inuvik team, despite having played six gruelling games in three days and lost the final. "It's the only tournament we've been to this year. It's good that they put it on for all the communities."

Skinner's teammate Darcy Setzer agreed and said the best part of the weekend was getting to play against the other teams.

From the Tuk team, Nathan Kuptana said local tournaments are almost getting too easy.

"It's a lot of fun," he said.

"We had some good teamwork, good chemistry."

The team has been playing together since early childhood and, according to Kuptana, is now eyeing bigger leagues and more travel. They are headed to Whitehorse for a tournament in early April.

"To all the kids out there," he said, referring to his own experience playing for a small community.

"Keep trying and don't give up."