All in the name of fun
Arviat novice team makes first trip to Thompson tourney
Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, March 26, 2014
ARVIAT/THOMPSON, MAN
It's what the game should be all about at the early stages of minor hockey.
The players on the Arviat Wolves novice hockey team had a trip to remember at the Jack Burden Novice Tournament in Thompson, Manitoba, earlier this month.
It was the first time for an Arviat novice team to participate at the event.
The Wolves plan to return to the tourney in 2015, and, if they happen to win a game or two, all the better.
Team manager Gleason Uppahuak said the Wolves finished last in the 12-team tournament, but the kids couldn't have cared less.
He said they had an absolute blast at the event, both on the ice and out and about in the community.
"Each child had at least one parent with them, and some had both," said Uppahuak.
"This was the first year of novice hockey and the first tournament for about 90 per cent of our players, so we weren't dreaming about winning.
"The kids loved the swimming pool and getting to go shopping, and they really liked being at a complex that had an indoor playground.
"It was like being at Disneyland for some of them."
Uppahuak said the kids were happy just to be in Thompson for the tournament.
He said that was the whole point of the trip, for the kids to go and have fun.
"We took 14 players and, although it was all about having fun, they also picked up a little experience, too.
"They know what to expect now when they go to a tournament.
"Maybe, next year, with the same players back, we'll put a bit more emphasis on the hockey, but it will still be about having fun.
"These kids are only seven- to nine-years-old, and it's supposed to be all about fun, not winning, at that age."
Uppahuak said it was nice to see the players get so much support and to have so many parents on the trip.
He said the parents often seemed to be having as much fun as the kids.
"The whole idea was to let them have fun, while exposing them to the experience of southern hockey.
"Our kids only get to play against each other in Arviat, while they have four teams in Thompson's novice league.
"Calm Air really helped us pull this off, and it was time and money well spent to give the kids a trip like that."
