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INUVIK
Inuvik teams fared well over the weekend as the minor hockey season wound down at the Gwich'in Cup.

Inuvik minor hockey players Jacob Israel, left, Jacob Lennie, Sam Skinner, Michael Cardinal, Julian Green and Caleb Ochsner participated in the Gwich'in Cup last weekend. - T. Shawn Giilck/NNSL photo

The Inuvik team captured the boys midget title, which is likely the most sought-after win at the tournament, with a hard-fought shootout win over Tuktoyaktuk.

However, organizers said the Gwich'in Cup is more about fair play and sportsmanship than winning.

"The Gwich'in Cup Tournament is the youth hockey tournament for the Beaufort Delta," said Carolyn Hunter, president of Inuvik Minor Hockey. "Held every February/March, it is in its 12th year. It is entirely funded by the Gwich'in Tribal Council and hosted by Inuvik Minor Hockey."

The tournament featured four days of hockey, a Saturday night banquet and an awards ceremony on Sunday. Participating teams came from six communities around the Mackenzie Delta, including Aklavik, Fort McPherson, Tuktoyaktuk and Paulatuk. Players ranged in age from five to 17 years. Seventeen teams in the various divisions took part, with more than 200 players among them.

"It's a lot of hockey," Hunter said. "It's 12 years of tradition where these communities come to Inuvik for an annual hockey event."

The Gwich'in Cup follows on the heels of the annual IRC Cup, and demonstrates how popular hockey is in the region.

"We have lots of winter, lots of ice and lots of hockey," Hunter said.

Roger Israel coached one of the Inuvik Atom entries, the Killer Whales. Like Hunter, he stressed the tournament is all about fun and sportsmanship.

"It's the biggest we've got going in Inuvik," he said. "It's a regional event. We try to give the players some exposure to competition, since we kind of get tired of playing against ourselves all the time."

"But we like to keep it friendly. We want them to try their hardest, but we want them to be sportsmanlike on the ice and play fair. We talk about that, usually at the start of the games, and how to keep it clean. Just fair competition, that's what we want."

One of his players, Sam Skinner, a nine-year-old centre with the Killer Whales, won the best overall player award in his division.

"It's fun and it's all about the sportsmanship and fun for us," Skinner said. "I've played in it for three years. Playing hockey with your friends is the best, and so is having a tournament in the community."

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