KIVALLIQ/IQALUIT
Team Kivalliq earned the most special record in all of sports this past month - one that can never be broken.
Glen Ullyot of Hockey Nunavut, centre, presents the first Nunavut Female Territorial Hockey Championship banner to Team Kivalliq's Tiffany Siusangnark, left, and Judy Mariq in Iqaluit this past month. - photo courtesy of Steve Paterson |
Kivalliq defeated Team Baffin 9-8 in a thrilling final game in Iqaluit to become the first Nunavut territorial female hockey championship team.
The Kivalliq squad was comprised of players from Arviat, Repulse Bay and Baker Lake.
A full team from Arviat defeated Rankin Inlet to claim bronze at the territorial.
About 80 female players from 12 communities across the territory took part in the event.
Hockey Nunavut president Darrin Nichol said the first female territorial was a big success.
He said the games were exciting and the calibre of hockey kept getting better as the tournament progressed.
"The Rankin Inlet team was one of the best examples of that," said Nichol.
"The players were a little hesitant at the start of the tournament, but they kept improving game after game and almost left Iqaluit with the bronze.
"You couldn't really ask for anything better than a one-goal game in the championship, so hats off to Team Kivalliq for capturing the first territorial banner.
"There was some really, really good hockey played at this event."
Nichol said 2014 Arctic Winter Games (AWG) female hockey coach Steve Paterson and his staff attended the territorial.
He said the event was a great way for the AWG crew to see a lot of the available female talent play in meaningful and competitive games.
"A full evaluation took place during the territorial.
"There were a number of girls who were invited back to an AWG selection camp we're going to run this coming fall."
Nichol said the territorial was a good first step in revitalizing the female hockey program in Nunavut.
He said that's something Hockey Nunavut has been working toward for a number of years.
"Building female hockey has been a top priority for Hockey Nunavut.
"This was a big event for us, and we look forward to keeping it going and making it equal to the bantam or midget territorial.
"We owe a big thank you to all the organizers who helped make this happen.
"And, in Rankin, a special thank you to Charlotte Pilakapsi and Verna Strickland, who stepped up for the team in a pinch and took the girls to Iqaluit."
