Rankin Inlet Wolves conquer the NWT
Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Monday, June 12, 2017
Hay River
To say the trip the Rankin Wolves U12 boys' futsal team took to the NWT was successful last month would be a major understatement.
The winners of the Elks Darosa Futsal Cup, the Rankin Wolves boys' U12 futsal team, are front row from left, Kasma Bruce, Nolan Sammutok, Sandy Tattuinee, Inuk Brown-Kowmuk and Kadin Eetuk, and, back row from left, Owen Connelly-Clark, Kayden Mercer, Paul Stroeder (head coach) Gregory Wiseman, Terence Pilakapsi and Jamie Airut - photo courtesy of Paul Stroeder |
The Wolves travelled to the town of Hay River to take on the hometown boys in the Elks DaRosa Futsal Cup from May 26 to 28. The team brought the championship home to Rankin Inlet with them, but the players made such a positive impression on everyone that the folks in Hay River probably don't mind too much.
Wolves head coach Paul Stroeder said the trip and the special one-on-one showdown with the Elks was definitely the highlight of the season.
"The series was a best of five, and we beat them the first three games by scores of 7-2, 6-3 and 6-4 to take the Cup," said Stroeder. "In fairness, they were without three of their better players for the first game, and the next two games were tied 2-2 and 3-3 at halftime, so they were fairly close. After the Wolves took the Cup, the teams had a skills competition so the kids could get to know each other better.
"So, then they asked if we could split the teams and carry on," Stroeder said, "which we did for the final two games so they could all get to play with their new friends.
"It was a lot of fun, and most of the parents of the Hay River boys came to us afterward and said it was very nice of us to allow the boys to play and have some fun
together."
"The boys won the hearts of the parents and the other people watching the games in Hay River, even the mayor." Stroeder said.
As play began in the series, the folks in Hay River were definitely taken aback by the skill level of the Rankin boys.
Stroeder said the Hay River coach was among those praising the Wolves, saying the Rankin players had a very good understanding of the game.
"They just won everybody over and that was something really special to see and be a part of." "The U16 girls were there from the North American Indigenous Games (NAIG) with two split teams, and they were watching the U12s play.
"A number of the girls, even at 16 years old, were really amazed at the skill level the boys have at their age."
Stroeder said the dedicated work the young Rankin players put in during the year was very much evident in Hay River.
He said the Wolves kept playing their game, and, as the matches wore on, both their skill and fitness levels began to show and the team took over in the second halves.
"This was a trial run for the people who put on the tournament because they're going to be hosting the Arctic Winter Games futsal in Hay River," Stroeder said.
"So, at the very beginning of the tournament, we had all the teams line up in the foyer, and then they announced all the teams as they came out with everyone cheering, so that was a nice experience for the boys, too."
And at the end, when the medals were presented, Stroeder said there was music playing and the teams got to high five fans while pictures were taken. Even Hay River Mayor Brad Mapes couldn't resist the charm of the Rankin players. He thanked them and the coaches for coming so far to compete in the tournament. He then bought the whole team supper at a local restaurant.
Stroeder added that there was an even more surprising free supper on the horizon.
"We decided to go out for supper again before the long trip home, so we headed out to the restaurant at the Ptarmigan Inn," he said. "After we finished eating, I waved our waitress over and asked her for our bill, so she hands me the slip of paper while telling me it was already paid for by the couple who had been sitting behind us.
"There was even a beautiful note on the back of the bill thanking us for all the fun times, wishing us safe travels home and ending with 'God bless you'."
On the journey home, the Wolves stopped at Lady Evelyn Falls near Kakisa, visited the territorial park and saw the natural waterfall, stopped on the highway to watch bison, and even saw moose, a black bear with cub, and bald eagles along the Mackenzie River.
"We're not sure if Hay River is going to continue with the event, but I recommend they do somewhere along the line," said Stroeder.
"They put on a very good tournament and the hospitality was first class." "It was a great experience for the boys and one I'm sure they'll remember for quite a while."
Shelley Maher, who volunteers with the Elks Youth Soccer program in Hay River, the group which organized the tournament, said it would appear there have been new friends made.
"They became really good friends and I've heard they've been talking to each other on Snapchat so we've created something special there, I think," she said.
- with files from
James McCarthy
