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Lovin' the barn
Winnipeg refs look forward to working Rankin tournaments

Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Wednesday, January 27, 2016

RANKIN INLET/WINNIPEG
As old and past her prime as she may be, the grand old lady of Kivalliq hockey still boasts a magical atmosphere during tournament season in Rankin Inlet.

NNSL photo/graphic

Noel Kaludjak couldn't resist having a little fun with Winnipeg official Jeff Strome, right, during the 2015 Avataq Cup senior men's hockey tournament in Rankin Inlet. - photo courtesy of Cedric Autut

Whether it's the Avataq Cup or Polar Bear Plate, memories of the Rankin arena rocking at near ear-bleeding levels during a championship game are often cherished for years by players and fans alike.

And the same holds true for the guys in striped sweaters.

Tournament organizers in Rankin have provided the means for the official's scheduler to bring in out-of-town refs to top up the local crew for a number of years now.

And, whether they've come from Yellowknife, Grande Prairie or Winnipeg, they all share one thing in common.

They're always willing to come back.

Blake Rempel, 33, is a Level 3 official from Winnipeg who's been officiating since the age of 15.

Rempel will be making his fourth trip to Rankin when he arrives for the Avataq Cup in March.

He's worked the Avataq, Polar Bear Plate and Northern Hockey Challenge in the past, and he's looking forward to taking to the ice in Rankin again this year.

Rempel said when he was first asked to come to Rankin, he came for the experience and to be able to say he officiated at an Arctic tournament.

But, he said, once he met the people and experienced the atmosphere in the arena, he couldn't wait to come back.

"The people were great, and both the atmosphere in the rink and the quality of hockey really impressed me," said Rempel.

"The hockey I've officiated in Rankin has been very high calibre.

"It's good, clean hockey, and I find the players to be quite respectful of the refs and the game.

"I deal with a lot of small communities around Winnipeg, and appreciate the level of support they provide local sports but it was quite a sight to see so many people in Rankin come out to support the hockey being played."

Rempel said he will always remember and cherish the intensity of both the crowd and the play during his first gold medal game in Rankin.

He said it was one of the best games he's ever officiated, and the atmosphere in the arena was electric.

"The crowd in the Rankin arena is really something to see and hear.

"From what I saw during the Polar Bear Plate, a number of those teams would give the junior B teams here a run for their money.

"The senior hockey would, definitely, be classed in the A Division of Winnipeg senior men's hockey.

"There's one senior league in Winnipeg where the top Kivalliq teams might be lower down in the A Division, but they'd win the Winnipeg Jets Hockey League."

Jeff Strome, 31, is also a Level 3 official from Winnipeg.

Strome, who's been officiating since the age of 13, will be making his seventh trip to Rankin when he comes for the Polar Bear Plate on Feb. 4.

He said the atmosphere at both the Plate and the Avataq is what keeps bringing him back.

"A tournament in Rankin is a unique experience each time, and it's a very special thing a lot of people never get to do," said Strome.

"To me, it's the overall experience of being a little bit outside of my element.

"And, on a personal level, I enjoy learning about other cultures, so that's also a big part of it for me."

Strome said the energy level in the Rankin arena can be comparable to a national championship.

He said there's been games in Rankin when he could barely hear himself think while skating up and down the ice.

"It's hard for me to draw an exact comparison to the final Sunday of a tournament in Rankin because, for me personally, I've never experienced anything quite like it.

"The Rankin arena reminds me a little bit of performing on a stage in front of 2,000 people because there's an energy in the room that everybody brings, and the Sunday of an Avataq is always like that.

"It's an incredible experience because it's such a heightened level of excitement."

Strome said it's an elite level of play at the Avataq, and sportsmanship plays a prevalent role in the brand of hockey being played.

He said he would compare it on some levels to a real professional feel.

"I say that in the sense the majority of the players are respectful, they understand the game and they realize we're all there for the same reason in how we feel about the game.

"The level of competition at the Avataq and the Plate is on par with anything I've seen down south.

"It's hard to draw a comparison across all platforms, but it's almost like you're always officiating playoff hockey in Rankin.

"You get the little goose bumps while you're calling the game, and there's something in the air that just makes the experience feel legit, so really, that's pretty cool."

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