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Having a ball in Arviat Benchwarmers claim inaugural ball hockey crown
Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, October 2, 2013
ARVIAT
The two medal games were overtime thrillers as the first Arviat Ball Hockey Championship came to a close under a hail of flying fists, great goaltending and clutch scoring.
The inaugural Arviat ball hockey champion Benchwarmers are, back row, from left, Jimmy Ishalook, Greg Gibbons, Manuel Ukutak, Kevin Sewoee, Gary Jr. Kuksuk and Ralph King, and, front row, from left, Joe Curley, Jackson Arualak, Laurent Jr. Akat and Edmund Pameolik. - photo courtesy of Himngaat Illungiyok |
The Benchwarmers downed Anthony's Taxi 7-6 to claim the championship, while the Arviat Canucks snuck past the Native Pork Knockers to lay claim to the bronze.
Each team was allowed a maximum of 10 players and one goalie.
The four-team tournament was the brainchild of Pierre Ikakhik, who felt the community would enjoy the action.
And, with Arviat in the Northern Hockey Challenge when it returns for the 2014-15 season, Ikakhik thought it would also be a great way for Arviat's senior men's players to start the year in great shape.
"Once I decided to give it a shot, I asked the hamlet for a bingo slot and they were good enough to give me one," said Ikakhik.
"Our profit from the bingo was $4,000, and it all went back into prize money and to pay the referees.
"Everyone had a good time and lots of people came out to watch.
"The prizes were $2,000, $1,000 and $500 for the top three teams, and we paid our refs $500 for doing the tournament."
Manuel Ukutak was named the tourney's Most Valuable Player, while Tony Nibgoarsi was Best Defenceman and Jackson Arualak Best Goalie.
Doug Ollie and Jimmie Muckpah were kept busy with the officiating, especially during the bronze medal game.
Ikakhik said many of the players mentioned how hard, physically, the tournament was.
He said even though they didn't finish in the top three, the Pork Knockers put up a good fight for only
having just enough players.
"We don't allow fighting and they had two guys kicked out right away for fighting, so they went the rest of the way with no subs at all.
"Their five players were so tired when the game went into overtime, they just didn't
have anything left.
"I'm going to try to keep it going again next year and, hopefully, we'll have a few more teams.
"Lots of people told me they'll play next year if I keep it going, so it could be lots of fun for everyone."
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