RANKIN INLET
For the first time in more than a decade, a Rankin Inlet oldtimer hockey squad brought home some hardware from Yellowknife.
The Team Todd Rankin squad played five games over a 24-hour period on their way to capturing the B Division championship at the 30th anniversary edition of the Balsillie Cup oldtimer tournament in Yellowknife earlier this month.
Bad weather in Rankin delayed the team's departure a day, and had it landing in Yellowknife just after 5 p.m. on April 6.
Almost 24-hours later to the minute, the team was being photographed under the arena score clock with the championship trophy proudly on display.
Team member Robert Kabvitok said because there were fewer teams than usual at this year's event, Rankin actually got to play games in both the A and B divisions.
He said Rankin lost in the A Division semifinal, but then went directly to the B Division final which they won by a score of 4-3.
"Luckily, for us, the tournament organizers were flexible enough to adjust the schedule so we could still play our games after arriving a day late," said Kabvitok.
"We played two back-to-back games beginning at 9 p.m. our first night there.
"Then, we were right back on the ice to play again at 9 a.m. the following day.
"Our final two games were at 12:15 and 3:15 p.m. on Sunday (April 7) afternoon."
Kabvitok said the Rankin team was just too tired to handle an A team in the A Division semifinal, but the players were more than happy to bring the B Division championship home with them.
"All-star (Patrick Karlik) was pretty happy because he's been coming to this tournament for the past 10 years without ever winning it.
"I don't know if Rankin ever won it before that, but this was the first time in, at least, the past 10 years."
Kabvitok said this was his third year to compete at the Balsillie Cup and he really enjoys the event.
The solid defenceman still logs considerable minutes patrolling the blue line in the Rankin Inlet Senior Men's Hockey League and, he said, while the oldtimer tourney is competitive, it's not near as intense as the senior game.
"You can't compare this to playing in the Avataq, but I like playing here.
"We had a lot of new guys this year and I told them to just play the game and have fun.
"It's not high-calibre hockey, but it's awesome in its own way.
"It's nice to just go out and enjoy hockey again."
