RANKIN INLET
Hockey fans in Rankin Inlet will get their first look at the Northern Hockey Challenge senior men's loop this coming weekend.
Pujjuut Kusugak is one of the star players leading Rankin Inlet into the Northern Hockey Challenge. - photo courtesy of Doug McLarty |
Teams from Repulse Bay and Kuujjuaq, Nunavik, will be in Rankin to take on the home squad.
Kuujjuaq will take on Rankin Friday evening at 8 p.m., while Saturday will see Kuujjuaq vs. Repulse at noon, Repulse vs. Rankin at 3 p.m., Kuujjuaq vs. Rankin at 6 p.m. and Kuujjuaq vs. Repulse at 9 p.m.
Rankin will play Repulse at 1 p.m. on Sunday.
Rankin coach Donald Clark said he was approached by a number of players in the local senior men's hockey league to run the squad.
He said the team was selected by a committee comprised of himself, general manager Hamish Tatty and assistant coaches Jackson Lindell and Oscar Airut.
"The four of us met regularly to discuss the players," said Clark.
"We were only able to schedule one inter-squad game with the Rankin arena being quite busy.
"But Hamish has been to almost every senior men's game this year, Oscar goes a lot to watch his son play, Jackson plays in the league, and I play and ref in the league, so we had a good knowledge of the players interested in playing."
Clark said he's only seen the Kuujjuaq team play once, but he knows many of the players from Repulse and Iqaluit.
He said there won't be too many weak players on any of the teams in the Challenge.
"There won't be much difference, talent wise, between your top line and your second and third in this event.
"The players selected for Rankin are really looking forward to playing in this.
"Anyone not selected, of course, would be disappointed, but I hope it's just disappointment and no hard feelings.
"Hopefully, this becomes an ongoing event so players can be better prepared going into the second season."
Clark said he's sure the Challenge will be supported well in Rankin Inlet.
He said Rankin has a solid history of supporting hockey and this promises to deliver some exciting games.
"You've got most of the best senior men's hockey players in the communities involved.
"A number of communities have guys who have played in the south at the junior-A level, and a number of others who played college, university or junior-B hockey.
"We're going to be looking at about a senior 'A' level of hockey, I'd say.
"And, with only a 12-game schedule, you have to be ready to go from game number one if you're going to be one of the two teams in the East to make the playoffs."
