Inuvik - Inuvik's men's rec hockey league is back a little bigger and a little better this time around.

Greg Murphy and Mickey Ipana are banking on a great season of rec hockey. - Andrew Rankin/NNSL photo

Thanks to some new-found talent, four teams will be competing for the title and bragging rights, up one more from last season.

Organizer and player Mickey Ipana, said he's looking forward to some fast-paced hockey and expects to see some more fans in the bleachers.

"It's just great to get hockey here going again," said Ipana. "We have so many good players. The league's expanding, kids are getting out of minor hockey. So we have a really good base."

In its second season, the league debuted Sunday with Northwind squaring off against the Madd Trappers.

There will be plenty of league play from now until well into March. Doubleheaders are scheduled for Friday evenings along with match-ups on Wednesday and Sunday evenings. Playoffs are scheduled for March followed by a season-ending awards banquet.

For the last month players have been playing pick up together, getting into game shape.

Just a couple of weeks ago a draft was held to assign players to teams while spreading out the

talent to ensure competitive games.

Greg Murphy is a new arrival to the league, coming from Ontario. In his 49th consecutive season playing organized hockey, he said he's thrilled to be at it again.

"First thing I did when I came up here four months ago was to find out if I could play hockey," said Murphy, who's also playing in the senior league.

So far he's been impressed by the high calibre of hockey he's seen.

"It's really good hockey. I'm a lot older than most of the guys ... but everyone gets along; it's a good group."

But he couldn't resist some good old fashioned trash talk, championing his Mad Trappers' chances of winning all the marbles.

"Hopefully the other guys will be able to keep up with us," he said with a laugh.

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