Rockin' the joint in Victoria
Three Rankin curlers on four-member junior Team Nunavut
Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Wednesday,February 1, 2017
RANKIN INLET/VICTORIA, BC
The members of Team Nunavut's junior boys' team improved upon their skill sets, despite going winless at the 2017 M&M Meat Shops Canadian Junior Curling Championships this past week in Victoria, B.C.
Skip Arthur Siksik of Rankin Inlet looks to steal a point last week for Team Nunavut at the M&M Meat Shops Canadian Junior Curling Championships at Victoria, BC - photo courtesy of Bob Vanderford |
Representing Nunavut at the Canadian championship were Arthur Siksik (skip), Tyson Komaksiutiksak (third), Javen Komaksiutiksak (second) of Rankin Inlet and David Aglukark (lead) of Iqaluit.
Team Nunavut went 0-7 at the national championship.
Tyson said the junior championship was a good experience for the Nunavut curlers.
He said they're getting a little bit more experience and improving their overall game every year they participate.
"We're getting to know the game and understand the strategy more and more every year," said Tyson.
"Skipping my first full game during the last day of the championship was a real positive learning experience for me, and it built upon skipping a few half-games I did earlier in the championship.
"Arthur (Siksik) wasn't feeling really well, so I took the position."
Tyson said he's usually the third on the team, and, as vice-skip, usually holds the broom for the skip.
He said taking over the role of skip put a lot of pressure on him to call the right shots during the contest, and to make his last few shots count to put points on the board and try to make the difference in the game.
"We were close in our game against the NWT, when Arthur was skipping the game, and were only down by four points.
"The ice at these events is a whole different experience than at home because there's a lot more curl to your shots and the ice is a lot faster.
"We couldn't possibly use the weight on our shots here as we do in Rankin, or everything would go right through the back of the house.
"Another big difference at these events is that it's not nearly as cold as it is playing in Rankin."
Tyson said there were some decent crowds at the national championship, and it was fun when fans cheering for the other team would cheer for Team Nunavut anytime they made good shots.
He said they received advice, encouragement and compliments from members of the other teams.
"They told us we made good shots or made the right call, so they were really encouraging.
"They knew we were playing at the nationals with a bit of a handicap."
Tyson, 20, ages out of junior this year, after being involved with the sport for the past four years and having participated in the past three national junior championships.
He said he fully intends to stay involved with the sport, but not until he finishes his post-secondary education.
"It's only been four years, but the sport of curling has already been really good to me," said Tyson.
"It's taught me so much about teamwork and working towards a goal.
"That's something I'll take with me into other aspects of my life, for sure."
Tyson said he wasn't disappointed by their 0-7 record this year.
He said the other teams have a lot of competition and challenges in their areas, which is something the Nunavut curlers don't really have at all.
"We need to go outside the territory to play a lot more if we're going to take our game to the next level.
"There are plenty of teams willing to play us in exhibitions, and we need more time on better ice and against stronger competition.
"There's enough interest in young people in Rankin Inlet to keep the junior program going for another few years.
"It's all been a positive experience for me."
Angela Dale, who coached the boys' junior team this year, said Nunavut's junior programs are growing.
She said she really hopes they have teams to send in future years, so she's already on the lookout for talent to fill the two open spots for the 2018 event.
"Under 21 is the highest category of competition we can send our youth curlers to," said Dale.
"For this competition, they had to be 20 years of age on June 30, 2016."
Dale, who used to live in Rankin Inlet, now resides in Iqaluit.
She said to date, she hasn't heard anything about what may happen when the new Rankin arena, which does not have curling ice, finally opens in the community.
"I haven't been in contact with anyone, but it is my understanding there are no plans to have curling ice in the new arena.
"I also haven't heard anything on what they plan to do with the old arena when the new one opens.
"It would be unfortunate if we lose the Rankin facility, because we're already down to two, with only one in Iqaluit and one in Rankin.
"Coming to the national championships and playing with the best junior players and coaches in Canada is always a great time."
