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RANKIN INLET
The waiting is finally over as the puck drops on the Kivalliq's biggest senior men's hockey tournament tonight in Rankin Inlet.

Wendel Kaludjak hopes to stay hot with the Rankin Ice Holes in this week's Avataq Cup senior men's tourney in Rankin Inlet. Kaludjak accepted the Most Valuable Player award from Noah Matoo at the Joseph Natakok Memorial senior men's tournament in Coral Harbour earlier this month. - photo courtesy of Noel Kaludjak

Ten teams will compete for this year's Sakku First Aviation Avataq Cup from March 14-18, with the defending champion Rankin Miners once again seen as the team to beat.

Looking to knock the Miners from their throne will be a strong field that includes the young, fast and skilled Rankin Ice Holes, as well as Arviat, Coral Harbour, Repulse Bay, Whale Cove, Baker Lake AEM, Iqaluit and Rankin's Team Todd.

Making their return to the Avataq Cup will be Chesterfield Inlet, following the announcement two-time finalist and one-time champion Huka Services will not be competing this year.

Avataq committee member David Clark said the Huka squad will be missed at this year's event.

But, he said, Chester has added a number of players and he expects them to ice a very competitive team.

"I was shocked to hear Huka wouldn't be competing this year and I didn't know how to take it at first," said Clark.

"But, it's a lot of work to ice a competitive team at this level, and Brian (Sigurdson) took on most of it the past few years, as well as being the team sponsor.

"I understand Brian wanted to take a step back and I don't blame him for that, because there's a lot of work involved with putting a team that good together.

"At the same time, I hoped one of the players would step up to do it, but, that didn't happen, so Chester is in."

Hockey fans across Nunavut will be able to keep up to date with the action on the ice via the Rankin hockey website and Twitter feeds.

Brian Tattuinee is, once again, lending his technical expertise to the event to keep fans on top of the action.

Clark said while hockey is the top draw during the week, the Avataq is a community event.

He said among the highlights of this year's festivities are a giant Avataq bingo, a super raffle with a new truck as its top prize, and a special craft sale this Saturday afternoon, March 17, at Simon Alaittuq School.

"On paper it looks like this could be one of the most even Avataq Cups ever, and I firmly believe anything can happen in a tournament.

"Once you make the playoffs, anything can happen in one game between any two teams.

"We're really hoping a lot of people drop by the school to see what our local artists have to offer.

"With all the people in town for the Avataq, we wanted to give others in the community a chance to be involved and, maybe, sell some of their items."

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