Rankin Inlet minor girls hockey players Tati ConnellyClark, Evelyn Autut, Joanna Anawak, Joy Angetsiak, Nicole Ymana and Jaydene Pilakapsi, front row from left, and Addy-Belle Lindell, Amber Graham, Destiny Anawak, Tatyana Taipana, Carolyne Gibbons, Mikki Adams (coach) and TiaEmma Adams, back row from left, got the news they'd be attending Hayley Wickenheiser's Wickfest World Female Hockey Festival this past week in Rankin Inlet. Missing from the photo is Elinor Mercer. - Darrell Greer/NNSL photo |
Hockey hero calls
Rankin sending 13 female players to Wickfest
after video conference with Hayley Wickenheiser
Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, October 15, 2014
RANKIN INLET
Gasps of disbelief and squeals of excitement filled the room when Canadian female hockey hero Hayley Wickenheiser's face came on the screen at Maani Ulujuk Ilinniarvik this past week.
And you couldn't blame coach Mikki Adams if she let out a sigh of relief.
Adams had secretly carried the news Wickenheiser gave the girls via video conferencing for the past nine months.
The room was lit with smiles when Wickenheiser told the Rankin girls they'd be going to Calgary, Alta., to play in the 2014 Wickfest World Female Hockey Festival from Nov. 21 to 24.
Making the trip will be Tati ConnellyClark, Evelyn Autut, Joanna Anawak, Joy Angetsiak, Nicole Ymana, Jaydene Pilakapsi, Elinor Mercer, Addy-Belle Lindell, Amber Graham, Tia-Emma Adams, Destiny Anawak, Tatyana Taipana and Carolyne Gibbons.
Mikki said she'd been working with Wickenheiser to have the four-time Olympic medallist deliver a hockey school in Rankin this coming month.
Wickenheiser told Mikki November was just too busy a month for her, but the disappointment quickly turned to excitement.
"They were willing, in connection with the Canadian Tire Jumpstart program, to sponsor our girls to go to Wickfest," said Adams. "They're paying air fare and accommodations for our 13 girls to attend.
"I have eight girls in my bantam-midget group and the other five names were pulled from a hat with the names of the 15 girls in peewee."
Adams said girls tend to play hockey with the boys until the bodychecking starts. She said the absence of a place to play once the girls hit bantam age is why the female program was started about two years ago.
"The girls will get on-ice instruction to help their development at Wickfest and a huge tournament is also held.
"I believe there's players from five or six other countries attending this year, including Germany and China. There will be 80 teams, in total, at Wickfest, and our Rankin girls will be together on one team.
"They're going to have Rankin Rock jerseys and they're pretty proud and excited about that."
Mikki said it hasn't been easy trying to keep her secret since this past January.
She said it was supposed to have been announced in August, but that plan just didn't work out.
"Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Hayley (Wickenheiser) were doing a bit of a tour, and Harper was supposed to come to Rankin this past August and make the announcement while here.
"But there were protests during his stops in Iqaluit, Cambridge Bay and Hay River, so the prime minister decided not to come to Rankin. He and Hayley were supposed to announce it on Aug. 27 in Rankin, but he backed out.
"So, it's been a long nine months for me."
