RANKIN INLET
One of the biggest hockey rivalries in all of Northern Canada took centre stage in Rankin Inlet this past month.

Kivalliq Canucks Joseph Kopak, left, Douglas Ollie and Wendel Kaludjak accept the Challenge Cup from Hockey Nunavut's Darrin Nichol in Rankin Inlet Feb. 23. - photo courtesy of Noel Kaludjak

The Kivalliq Canucks defeated the Qikiqtani Sharks 6-4 to claim the Challenge Cup junior 'C' championship.

The win earns Kivalliq the right to represent Nunavut at the Maritime/Hockey North junior championship in Liverpool, Nova Scotia, March 26 to 30.

While one Baffin team fell to defeat, a Kivalliq sweep was not to be as Team Iqaluit humbled the Rankin Rock 7-0 to claim the Powerful Peewees championship.

Both tournaments were played on the Feb. 21 to 23 weekend after the Powerful Peewees had been postponed twice due to bad weather.

Canucks head coach Donald Clark said from the Kivalliq point of view, while it was nice to see the Kitikmeot back at the Challenge Cup junior 'C' tourney, its team didn't offer much competition to the Kivalliq or Baffin.

He said Hockey Nunavut has a lot of work to do to get the Kitikmeot up to par with the other two regions.

"It was nice to see them at the Cup but, when they're not very competitive, it puts a damper on the whole tournament," said Clark.

"The hockey fans in Rankin are quite knowledgeable, so, if they know it's not going to be a challenging game, they tend to stay away.

"And you can't really blame them for that."

Clark said two of Baffin's players not being able to get to Rankin following a volleyball tournament played to the Kivalliq's advantage.

He said it was also unfortunate a Baffin player was injured, but he doesn't feel any sympathy for the team being down one more in the final game due to discipline issues.

"They had a player suspended for inappropriate behaviour towards an official and that's just not excusable.

"But there's no doubt Baffin having a short bench in the final game hurt them."

Clark said there was no panic in the Kivalliq room following the second period, with the Baffin leading 4-2.

He said the players were calm and confident as they waited to take to the ice for the final period.

"They didn't get too high or too low during the tournament, and that's what we were trying to concentrate on during the weekend.

"Even down 4-2, they felt they still had it within them to go out and win it in the third period.

"It didn't look good when our captain (Tyler Tattuinee) took a five-minute major in the third but, when we killed that with the score still 4-2, I knew we still had a chance to come back.

"We got a lucky break to make it 4-3, and then everything went our way."

Clark said Roy (Hollywood) Kopak of Repulse Bay told assistant coach Steve Faulkner he had a goal in his stick as the third wound down.

He said Kopak then took to the ice, made an end-to-end rush, and his shot eluded the Sharks goalie to bring Kivalliq within one.

"Sometimes, when you get a lucky break, it motivates your players and takes the heart out of the opposing team.

"Our goalie, Josh Tartak, played outstanding in our round-robin game and final against the Baffin.

"Hopefully that will continue and he and Cliff (Kidlapik of Repulse Bay) will get the job done in nets, as we're really concentrating on playing well in our own end."

Clark said while the Canucks have their share of players with good offensive instincts, how they play in their own end will determine how they fare at the Maritime-Hockey North junior 'C' championship.

He said Nunavut will be playing against bigger and more physical players in Liverpool, but that's always the case every year at the event.

"I like the attitude of our team this year, because the players are very relaxed and seem to be having a lot of fun just playing the game.

"That's the way you want the atmosphere to be.

"We've been one of the best skating teams at the Maritime tournament during past years, and sometimes you have to counter physical play with quick mobility.

"We've got a bunch of guys who can move pretty well, so, hopefully, we can avoid big hits, play our game, and see where things go."

In addition to being the Canucks' goalie, Tartak also coached the Rankin Rock in the Powerful Peewee.

He said the kids enjoyed the tournament, despite being blown out in the final.

"Our team seemed to be nervous and, maybe, a little bit in awe of playing a team from Iqaluit in the final," said Tartak.

"That's something we'll have to work on before we go to Iqaluit to compete in the Toonyk Tyme tournament."

Tartak said the Rankin players had also built themselves up twice for the Powerful Peewees, and then were disappointed when it had to be postponed.

He said the bright spot to having it postponed twice was getting to play at the same time the Challenge Cup was being played.

"We had nice crowds for all our games and the players really enjoyed that.

"We did have a number of second-year players who missed the body contact, but the first-year players didn't seem to mind so much.

"They just went out and had a lot of fun playing and that's what the game is supposed to be all about."

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