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CORAL HARBOUR
A group of young athletes in Coral Harbour are playing hockey in good equipment thanks to the generosity of a group of southern volunteers led by a former Coral resident.

Player Ian Nakoolak gets ready to drop the puck between Lott Paniyuk, left, and Ala Pameolik as children in Coral Harbour take to the ice after receiving donated hockey equipment from Ontario this past month. - photo courtesy of Noel Kaludjak

The Nunavut Hockey Equipment Drive program is run out of Cherry Valley, Ont.

This was the second year in a row the program sent a shipment of gear to minor hockey players in Coral.

Noel Kaludjak has been distributing the gear among the Coral players.

Kaludjak said the equipment is badly needed in Coral Harbour and greatly appreciated by the community.

He said it's a good feeling to know there are people who care about the well-being of local kids and their ability to safely participate in minor hockey.

"We owe a big thank you to the people at First Air for bringing the gear to us free of charge," said Kaludjak.

"Kyle Wood used to live in Coral, and he started this program about a year ago.

"I'd say about 75 to 80 per cent of the gear we received last year was in very, very good condition.

"This year the gear was even better, and a lot of kids were asking me about it long before it arrived."

Kaludjak said kids were showing up for the gear as soon as it arrived in Coral.

He said many of them were just "walking on air" as they headed to the arena to try their new equipment.

"It was really an exciting time for the kids, and we were able to totally outfit 15 of them.

"About 10 of the kids were already playing hockey, but the gear they were using was way too small.

"They traded their gear for stuff that fit and we used their equipment to dress smaller kids."

Kaludjak said many kids have been encouraged to play hockey by their friends and siblings since the gear started arriving.

He said a number of players arrived at his house with newcomers to the game looking for equipment.

"It must be really exciting for them to get good gear and start playing hockey for the first time.

"Some kids are still missing a few things here and there, especially neck guards, which are hard to get in Coral, but we're doing our best to get them all on the ice.

"It's just awesome to see the joy in their faces when they leave with the gear."

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