SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Rankin Inlet made it to the A Division final before falling to a faster, stronger team at the First Air Recreational Hockey Tournament in Yellowknife earlier this month.

James Merritt of Rankin Inlet makes a great glove save during Rankin's gold medal loss to Polar United by a score of 5-0 earlier this month at the First Air Recreational Hockey Tournament in Yellowknife. - James McCarthy/NNSL photo

Polar United, comprised mainly of junioraged players, defeated Rankin 5-0 to claim the coveted A Division crown.

Another Nunavut team, Gjoa Haven, successfully defended its B Division crown to become a rare repeat champion at the annual easter weekend event.

Rankin goalie James Merritt said, win or lose, he always looks forward to competing in the Yellowknife tournament.

He said the tournament - although much larger in the number of teams that compete in four or five divisions -shares many similarities with Rankin's biggest tourney of the year.

"I find the level of hockey at the Yellowknife tournament to be, pretty much, the same in the A Division as our own (Sakku First Aviation) Avataq Cup," said Merritt.

"When I say that, I mean the top five or six teams at the Avataq.

"We usually have a couple of teams that aren't as strong as the rest every year.

"But, between the A Division and the top teams at the Avataq, they're, pretty much, equal."

Also a certified official, Merritt was one of two referees to work the Arctic Circle Cup in Repulse Bay this past weekend.

Merritt said having A and B divisions still hasn't caught on at Kivalliq tournaments, due mainly to the fact some communities see it as being placed at a lower level of play.

He said there's only so many A-calibre players to go around, however, and, from what he's seen at the Yellowknife tournament, winning a division title is a big deal.

"The B Division final was played right before our last game and I watched a team from Nunavut (Gjoa Haven) win that for the second year in a row.

"It was a very good hockey game and they were pumped after winning that division again.

"It would be interesting if one or two of the top Yellowknife teams would come to our tournament, but they never have and I've never heard anyone mention why.

"Our fans in Rankin are great, and it would be a lot of fun for them if a Yellowknife team ever came over."

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