Stepping up in Arviat
Minor hockey president appeals to parents to get involved
Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Wednesday, October 19, 2016
ARVIAT
The new president of the Arviat Minor Hockey Association (AMHA) wants to leave local minor hockey on solid ice when he departs for the south this summer.
Arviat Minor Hockey Association (AMHA) president Gleason Uppahuak and board members Kevin Kalluak and Ryan St. John, from left, hope to see more parents fundraise so players like William Uppahuak (atom) and Tucker St. John (peewee), front right, can go to tournaments with all their teammates during the coming season. - photo courtesy of AMHA |
Gleason Uppahuak was elected AMHA president for the first time earlier this month.
Well known for his involvement with hockey for a number of years, both at the minor and senior levels, Uppahuak said it's imperative more parents help fundraise for their kids during the upcoming season.
He said the costs of travel are high in the North and, if parents want to see their kids compete in tournaments, they're going to have to help out this year.
"It's great timing for me to step up and take the lead this year," said Uppahuak.
"Airfare is so expensive up here and, on top of that, the hamlet had to reduce our bingo slots we use for fundraising by 20 per cent this year.
"So, it's going to be a challenge to meet all of our goals with a 20-per-cent cut to our budget.
"I've already booked our community hall for every other Saturday so the AMHA can hold fundraisers, like penny sales, bake sales, raffles and things like that, so the parents can help fundraise."
Registration for minor hockey in Arviat will be starting within the next two weeks.
Uppahuak said they've tried to hold early-bird registrations in the past with limited success.
He said the AMHA expects to register about 20 to 50 more players this season than what it had in 2015-16.
"The parents start registering their kids in Arviat when our arena is just about to open, which should be around the end of this month.
"We had 105 kids registered this past year and I expect to have somewhere between 130 to 140, or so, this year because of the hockey equipment donated to us through former NHLer Wayne Babych.
"The donated gear should really increase our player registrations."
Uppahuak said he has asked Hockey Nunavut to hold both a coaches' and an officials' clinic in Arviat this year.
He said he wants to see more certified coaches and officials working with the kids in the community.
"We had at least two coaches per age division this past year, and I've been working closely with the parents to try and get them more involved with every area of our minor-hockey program.
"It's very important to me to leave a strong hockey program in place before my family and I move to Winnipeg for awhile this summer.
"I don't want to ever see minor hockey fall in popularity again, like it did a few years ago in my hometown.
"Arviat is a hockey town and the minor program will stay strong as long as we have enough adults working consistently with the kids."
