ARVIAT - Whether you call it table tennis or ping pong, Arviat had its share of balls bouncing around for one glorious weekend this past month.

Baker Lake teammates Holly Kayuryuk, Kayla Mariq, Rahabi Angoyuaq and Kiligvak Tookoomee, from left, and Candace Kabloona, kneeling, celebrate a successful Nunavut Territorial Table Tennis Championship in Arviat this past month. - photo courtesy of Gord Billard

Large crowds were the norm as the community hosted the Nunavut Table Tennis Territorial Championship at the John Arnalukjuak High School gym.

Play was featured in the boys and girls under-15, under-17 and under-18 categories. Organizer Monty Snook said one of the major highlights of the tournament was the boy's under-17 bracket being a Canada Winter Games qualifying event.

He said the tournament was more exciting than he ever could have imagined going in.

"The event was an amazing experience for the community," said Snook.

"The competition was great and amazing to watch, and there were lots of spectators around and a really great spirit in the school.

"Lots of people were talking about it in the community afterwards, and they were quite pleased by how it went and the level of play they got to see.

"I would gladly host the event here again."

Competing at the event were teams from Arviat, Repulse Bay, Baker Lake, Kugluktuk, Arctic Bay, Pond Inlet and Clyde River.

Cape Dorset was also expected, but got weathered out. Snook said Arviat's Jimmy Napayok, 17, put on quite a show for the hometown crowd, winning gold in the U-18 bracket, silver in the U-17 group and the event's Most Improved Player award for the U-17 group.

Napayok was the only Kivalliq athlete to strike gold at the event, and his silver medal in the U-17 class earned him a spot on Team Nunavut for the upcoming Canada Winter Games in Halifax, N.S.

"It was really something to see Jimmy do that well, especially in front of his home community.

"The spectators were really into his last couple of matches in the under-18 class.

"The kids competed hard and had a lot of fun while they were here, and that's always the key to a successful event."

Nunavut Table Tennis Territorial Championship results

Boys U-15:

1: Cody Pitseolak, Pond Inlet

2: Tyler Pudnak, Baker Lake

T3. Lootie Atagootak, Pond Inlet

T3: Jonathan Wilton, Clyde River

Girls U-15:

1: Krista Niptanatiak, Kugluktuk

2: Kiligvak Tookoomee, Baker Lake

3. Katie Avakana, Kugluktuk

Boys U-17: (Canada Winter Games qualifying)

1: Kelvin Taipana, Kugluktuk

2: Jimmy Napayok, Arviat

T3: Cody Pitseolak, Pond Inlet

T3: Norman Nakoolak, Coral Harbour

Girls U-17:

1: Katelyn Atatahak, Kugluktuk

2: Candice Kabloona, Baker Lake

3: Rahabi Angoyuak, Baker Lake

Boys U-18:

1: Jimmy Napayok, Arviat

2: Cody Pitseolak, Pond Inlet

T3: Kelvin Taipana, Kugluktuk

T3: Simon Koonoo, Arctic Bay

Girls U-18:

1: Katelyn Atatahak, Kugluktuk

2: Vikki Niptanatiak, Kugluktuk

T3: Candice Kabloona, Baker Lake

T3: Kiligvak Tookoomee, Baker Lake

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