INUVIK
Inuvik skaters took the top three in every event they entered at territorials in Yellowknife late last month, but the season isn't over yet.

Reese Wainman makes her way around the track at last month's territorial championships in Yellowknife. - photo courtesy of Paul MacDonald

Braeden McLeod and Dalton McLeod have been selected to represent the NWT at the CanWest Games later this month and Jackson Christie is headed to Junior Nationals in Fredericton, N.B.

"It was a good experience for everyone," said Braeden McLeod of the territorials. "It was the first time out for the younger kids, and for the older ones it was good race experience."

Jon-Paul Picek, a coach for the younger skaters, said the team the club sent was smaller than it could have been as a result of the Gwich'in Cup taking place the same weekend but overall, he was more than pleased with the results.

"We generally tend to do pretty good overall," he said. "They all have fun, it's a good competition. They go up against new skaters and meet new kids."

Picek said the competition had also implemented a no-screen rule, forcing competitors to get off their phones and various devices and actually talk to each other between races. The results, he said, were evidently positive.

"Hopefully next year we'll have the same kids back," he said.

Coach Paul MacDonald said the territorial tournament remains the club's big event of the year and is an opportunity for all the skaters to see how they match up against the rest of the territory, as well as skate on a bigger rink, in line with official regulations.

It's also the only time most of the club can record official times, though that will soon be changing. MacDonald said an official from Speedskating Canada was in town this week to teach some volunteers the ropes. They will learn about how to run races and take official times, allowing more development options for local athletes.

"That's really important for the club," he said. "We'll be able to run our own sanctioned events."