RANKIN INLET
The Iqaluit Blizzard stunned Arviat Eskimo Point Lumber Supply 9-2 to claim the 2015 Polar Bear Plate junior/juvenile championship in front of a packed arena in Rankin Inlet this past month.
Arviat didn't go quietly, with three fights breaking out in an intense third period but in the end the Blizzard simply had too much fire power for Arviat to handle.
The Rankin Falcons nipped Coral Harbour to claim bronze.
Also competing at the Feb. 20 t Sal Shoo (assistant coach) o 22 event were Repulse Bay (Naujaat), Chesterfield Inlet, Baker Lake, Rankin Inlet Midgets and Whale Cove.
The win over Arviat gave Iqaluit its first Polar Bear Plate title after taking two bronze and a silver medal during the past three years.
Head coach Todd Gardner said any of the final four teams could have taken this year's championship.
He said Iqaluit kept getting better as the tourney went on and peaked at the perfect time to claim the title.
"Staying healthy through the round robin with all the body contact is huge in this tournament," said Gardner.
"In previous years, we always seemed to have injuries.
"Many of the other teams don't play body contact all year, so, when they go into this tournament, everybody seems to want to hit, hit, hit.
"So the biggest keys are staying healthy throughout the whole weekend, while improving your play as the tournament goes on."
Gardner said he likes the format used at the Polar Bear Plate.
He said he's not sure if the year will ever come when a team from the NWT competes at the event, but, whether that happens or not, the Plate is fine the way it is.
"I wouldn't change a thing with this tournament.
"It's the premier tournament of the North with junior-aged players, full-body contact and, of course, great fans in Rankin Inlet.
"It's great coming to this, and the guys really look forward to it every year.
"We've been talking about this year's tournament for months."
The Polar Bear Plate is held one-week before the Challenge Cup junior C event to decide which team will represent Nunavut at the Maritime-Hockey North junior C championship.
Gardner said having the Plate and the Challenge Cup only a week apart can work for you, or against you, in any given year.
"We had some injuries this past year and played the final game of the Challenge Cup with only 10 players.
"But, it's a tight schedule with Rankin hosting a tournament almost every weekend, so there's not a lot you can do.
"You have no healing time if guys do go down to injury, but I don't mind that.
"The Polar Bear Plate is a great warm-up for the Challenge Cup, as far as I'm concerned."
