VANCOUVER, B.C. - Watching sledge hockey players battle it out on the ice Malorey Nirlungayuk gained a new appreciation for the sport and the athletes who play it.

"It's just so rough," she said.

Debra Richards, left, of Enterprise and Malorey Nirlungayuk of Fort Simpson were two of the youth ambassadors who represented the territory at the Paralympics in Vancouver. - photo courtesy of the GNWT, Department of Municipal and Community Affairs

Seeing a game between sledge hockey teams from Japan and Korea was one part of Nirlungayuk's Paralympic experience. Eighteen-year-old Nirlungayuk from Fort Simpson was one of four youth ambassadors from the territory who volunteered at the Paralympics from March 10 to 22.

Like their youth ambassador counterparts who went during the Olympics, the group of four spent most of their time at Canada's Northern House. The youths rotated through a series of stations each day including acting as a greeter, working in the gallery and handing out pins.

"I thought it was really busy, lots of people every day," Nirlungayuk said.

Her favourite part of the experience was talking to people and meeting everyone who came through.

"There was a lot of people who came up to us and talked about the North," she said.

Many of the visitors commented on how impressed they were with the pavilion and the displays.

It was a love of volunteering that led Nirlungayuk to apply to the youth ambassador program. The idea of volunteering at a bigger event like the Olympics of the Paralympics excited her.

When she first arrived in Vancouver Nirlungayuk said she was disappointed that she wasn't chosen to volunteer at the Olympics because everyone seemed to have a good time during them. Her perception, however, soon changed.

"I figure I had more fun," she said.

Nirlungayuk said she was able to experience a lot of things including the opening ceremonies for the Paralympics, a Vancouver Canucks game and the sledge hockey game.

"It was really fascinating to see," said Nirlungayuk about the sledge hockey.

Outside the venue there was a small ice rink set up where people could try a sledge. A lot of people found it really hard, she said. Nirlungayuk said she was impressed with how fast the hockey players can skate with a sledge.

Looking back Nirlungayuk said she would repeat her Paralympic experience in an instant if she had the chance.

"I loved it. I enjoyed it so much," she said.