RANKIN INLET - Jose Kusugak never saw it coming.

In fact, he was thinking about his selection of music for what he knew was going to be an exciting third period in Game 2 of the Rankin Inlet Adult Recreational Hockey League's championship series when he clued in on executive member Jackson Lindell's announcement.

Kusugak said he had been "half-listening" while Lindell expressed the league's appreciation to someone, but it never dawned on him that he was that someone until Lindell said his name and turned to look at him.

"I saw the box with the satellite radio system, but we had done special draws and things all year, so I never thought any more about it," said Kusugak.

"I was surprised and deeply touched by the league's appreciation of what I've done all year, but, you know, that works both ways.

"I'm quite grateful to the players for all the great hockey I've seen this year."

Missing only a handful of games due to travel commitments, Kusugak spent the entire year announcing goals and penalties and playing music for the fans during breaks in the action.

He said he was surprised by how much the fans enjoyed his efforts.

"I decided to do this because I enjoy it, but the first time I returned from travelling I had people come up to me at the airport and say it wasn't the same while I was away," he said.

"That made me get more serious about what I was doing, so I started working at home with different things.

"I'd play a different type of music every second period and I had songs ready if somebody in the rink was celebrating a birthday, wedding anniversary or birth of a new child, things of that nature."

Kusugak said the one down side to his hobby is that he would like someone else to fill in once in a while so he could watch a game with his wife, Nellie, sitting in the crowd.

He said he has been impressed by what he's seen at ice level this year.

"If there was a lot of fighting and stuff like that, I wouldn't have kept coming," he said.

"But the players and referees have performed at high levels all year and it's been entertaining hockey to watch.

"I've really enjoyed watching some of the younger players, still midget or junior age, who have played at this level with men all year.

"They've played just as well as the older players on many nights."