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Tootoo has new clothes

Stephan Burnett
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (July 12/04) - The popularity of lacrosse may begin to rival hockey in Nunavut in the near future.

The sport, which broke into the territory in Kugluktuk, is beginning to spread eastward.

NNSL Photo/Graphic

Jordin Tootoo launched a new line of sportswear in Yellowknife earlier this month. - Stephan Burnett/NNSL photo


Although the growth may not be at wildfire proportions, it is significant.

Kylo Harris, Kugluktuk Grizzlies executive director, said players from both Cambridge Bay and Baker Lake will be joining team Nunavut in Manitoba for the Canadian National Field Lacrosse Championships.

"Rankin Inlet has contacted us and we're looking to help them start up," said Harris. "It's starting to catch on farther east."

Plans are to organize a lacrosse clinic in Rankin in the near future. In the meantime, Team Nunavut is training hard for the nationals and they have their work cut out for them.

They will be competing in the U19 division, although most of the players fit into the U16 category.

Harris said adjustments could have been made to drop the team to the U16 division, but in doing so they would lose a few star players.

"It's going to be tough for them to play in the U19 category," said Harris.

"The one thing they have on their side is the speed factor. They can run all day."

Last year, when the Grizzlies went south for an invitational tournament, they finished fifth overall.

Harris is not sure what to expect this year and said they will use this tournament to determine where to set goals. The team's youth will give them an advantage for future team building.

"We'll get an idea what our expectations should be," said Harris.

Kugluktuk currently has five lacrosse players playing outside of the territory. Three of the Grizzlies' Lacrosse players -- Luke Ayaligak, Randy Hinanik and Kenny Algona -- are playing Junior "B" Box lacrosse in Edmonton. Kyle Aviak and Adam Kikpak, are playing for an elite field lacrosse program in Philadelphia.