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RANKIN INLET
Hockey Town took another step in putting the hardware back in its trophy case this past weekend.

The Rankin Canucks defeated defending champion Repulse Bay 6-2 to capture the 2013 Polar Bear Plate juvenile-junior championship in front of a loud, boisterous sold-out arena in Rankin.

The Rankin victory was the second in a row this tournament season, following the Rankin Rock's victory in the Arctic Atoms tourney.

Rankin had been shut out in tournaments held on home ice in 2012.

Iqaluit defeated Arviat 3-2 in an intense game to take bronze at the Plate.

The Canucks got by Arviat 7-4 in their semifinal, in a game that was tied going into the final five minutes of the third period.

Repulse defeated Iqaluit 4-3 in overtime in the other semifinal, which was the tournament's most exciting game.

Joseph Kopak scored the winner at 14:37 of the first overtime period, burying the winner after Craig Nanordluk's slapshot came off the backboards and landed on his stick at the side of the Iqaluit net.

Keith (Butch) Sigurdson led the way for Rankin in the championship game, notching a hat trick, while Tyler Tattuinee dented the twine twice.

Wendel Kaludjak added a goal and assist to aid the Canucks' cause.

Joey Nuluk and Casey Akumaliq replied for Repulse, while goalie Cliff Kidlapik followed up his stellar semifinal performance with another spectacular show in the final, keeping the badly-outplayed Repulse team within striking distance until midway in the final frame.

Also participating in the nine-team tournament were Chesterfield Inlet, Whale Cove, Baker Lake, Coral Harbour and the Rankin Rock.

James Merritt of the champion Canucks had a steady tournament, going undefeated with three shutouts.

Merritt said he's in his final year of eligibility for the Canucks squad and it felt good to recapture the Plate championship.

He said the Plate was a great tune-up for the Canucks as they prepare for the junior C Challenge Cup against Baffin Feb. 22-24 in

Rankin.

"Repulse had to be tired after their semifinal game, but they played really good against us and their goalie played awesome," said Merritt.

"Cliff (Kidlapik) had a fantastic tournament and he deserved to be named the best goaltender.

"We've got a lot of young guys on our junior C team, so this was a good chance for the lines to get to play together in a real game and things like that.

"We're looking forward to taking on the Baffin in the Challenge Cup now."

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