Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Monday, April 9, 2007

RANKIN INLET - Five players have come forward to accept responsibility for off-ice antics at last month's Nunavut bantam territorial hockey championships, but they'll have to wait a while longer to find out their punishment.

Off the ice, Rankin players were accused of making a number of profane late-night phone calls to Baker residents during their stay in the community.

As well, minor hockey officials said players also drew a swastika on the wall of the airport terminal building with profanity scrawled underneath.

Cambridge Bay lost its security deposit when a group of players gained access to a room in the school they were staying at to get a bag of golf clubs and balls.

The players then drove balls around the school, damaging a number of mats and denting numerous sections of the school walls.

On the ice, Iqaluit defeated Rankin 4-3 in the championship game, while Baker downed Arviat to claim bronze at the event.

During the championship game, three Rankin players were assessed a total of eight games in suspensions for two gross misconducts and a harassment of official penalty.

Rankin Inlet Minor Hockey Association (RIMHA) president Justin Merritt had held an emergency meeting of parents and players March 29, where he threatened to suspend the entire team if those responsible for the phone calls and spray painting did not come forward.

Five players eventually came forward.

The length of the suspension was supposed to be determined during a minor hockey meeting on April 3, but that was postponed until this week because most board members were out of town.

"Our minor hockey teams have always had a good reputation while travelling and we've never had problems like this before," said Merritt.

"This is totally unacceptable behaviour that has been very embarrassing for the RIMHA, but we can learn from this and move forward."

Rankin coach Doug McLarty said the off-ice events and the behaviour of a small group of his players towards the officials on the ice were disappointing and disturbing.

He said the "antics" at the airport were dealt with quickly and firmly, but coaches can't watch the players 24 hours a day when on the road.

"The editorial in the Kivalliq News on March 28 (Nunavut officials need to be protected before it's too late) perfectly illustrated what I was seeing on the ice with the negative attitude towards officials working its way down to the younger players," said McLarty. (read the editorial at www.nnsl.com/kivalliqnews/editorial.html).

"We're going to reach the point where we won't have hockey referees in Nunavut.

"But, I'm not convinced the off-ice antics had anything to do with hockey or frustration with the officials.

"That's just an excuse for the kind of attitude we see too much of from some kids today."