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Rankin Inlet
The Rankin Inlet junior boys curling team defeated Cambridge Bay in Iqaluit this past month to earn the right to represent Nunavut at the Arctic Winter Games in Whitehorse, Yukon, this coming March.

Rankin Inlet's David Kakuktinniq, Brandyn Airut, Jamie Airut and Connor Faulkner, from left, were coached to victory by Ryan Ryan, right, in Iqaluit and will represent Nunavut in junior boy's curling at the Arctic Winter Games in Whitehorse this coming month. - photo courtesy of the Faulkner family

The Rankin junior girls team fell to Iqaluit.

Nunavut Curling, with the blessing of the national association, has adopted a club team approach to the Games, preferring to send the winning squad from the territorial championship rather than an all-star team.

The Team Nunavut junior boys squad will be Rankin's David Kakuktinniq (skip), Brandyn Airut, Jamie Airut and Connor Faulkner.

They will be coached at the Games by Nunavut Curling Association president Kevin Bussey.

Stephane Nukapiak is the alternate, and will travel to the Games only if one of the starting four is unable to do so.

The Rankin victory was impressive, considering three of the four boys are in their first year of curling.

Bussey said the skill level the Rankin players demonstrated in Iqaluit was nothing short of mind-blowing.

He said they made many shots one would only expect from seasoned curlers.

"They had everyone blown away in Iqaluit with their skill level," said Bussey.

"We're really hoping their victory will lead to more interest in our Rankin junior curling program next year.

"The boys will be wearing their Team Nunavut jackets around town, and talking to their friends about competing at the Games, so, hopefully, that will spark more local interest in the sport.

"We already had a substantial increase in our local program this year, both on the adult and junior sides of the ledger, so we'd like to see that trend continue."

Bussey said Rankin curlers are enjoying some of the best ice he's seen at the local arena during his involvement with the program over the past five years.

He said a number of people have returned to the sport who used to curl years ago, but gave it up for one reason or another.

"In talking with some of the local elders, they told me years ago they'd have big weekend tournaments that would go on 24/7 with practically everyone in the whole town out curling.

"It died out for some reason, but we've seen a good rebound the past two or three years and this year has shaped to be, kind of, a break-through year for us."

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