Rankin goes puck crazy
Excitement grows as season begins
Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Wednesday, November 2, 2016
RANKIN INLET
Darrin Nichol has seen a lot of hockey played in the Kivalliq since he began coaching minor hockey in Arviat in the 1980s.
Former Hockey Nunavut president and longtime Kivalliq hockey coach, volunteer and organizer Darrin Nichol of Rankin Inlet is optimistic the level of minor hockey being played across the region will continue to rise in the upcoming season. - Darrell Greer/NNSL photo |
Nichol, 48, of Rankin Inlet is a past president of Hockey Nunavut, and has coached, volunteered, organized and done just about everything involved with a minor hockey program.
And while Nichol is always optimistic at this time every year, he's particularly pumped about the prospects for minor hockey during the 2016-17 season.
"Everyone knows Rankin loves its hockey, and there's lots of excitement in the community to get the season started," said Nichol.
He said with at least three minor tournaments slated for Rankin, fans are in for some more exciting times at the community's aging, but still grand old barn. Much of the success, he says, can be attributed to the "solid group" of local coaches who have created a program under the Rankin Inlet Minor Hockey Association (RIMHA) banner.
"Rankin is blessed with an abundance of really committed coaches," he said. "Many of our coaches have taken the opportunity to upgrade their skill set, and that's been a big benefit to their players."
Rankin will host the Arctic Atoms and Powerful Peewees again this year, and will take a shot at holding a regional bantam tournament.
Nichol said the events mean everything to the kids in those age brackets, with many players practising against each other all year for a shot at their equivalent to the Stanley Cup.
"For many Kivalliq kids, this is their one chance at competing in a Hockey Canada-sanctioned event," said Nichol. "That's huge for them, and essential to their love of the game and the development of their skills. I don't know if you can put into words what the tourneys mean to these kids."
Nichol said Rankin tournaments are responsible for countless fond memories for both coaches and players.
"To many coaches and players during the past 15 to 20 years, playing hockey in our old barn are the most exciting memories of their minor hockey careers," he said. "The atmosphere in our old barn is awesome from the Arctic Atoms to junior 'C'. People look forward to coming here. It can be intimidating because it's like nowhere else, but that's what makes it so special and memorable to so many."
Nichol said the calibre of hockey continues to trend upwards across the Kivalliq, with Rankin setting the bar in many areas thanks to the efforts of many people, not just coaches and players.
"We've had a solid officiating program in place in Rankin for a good number of years now, as well as solid efforts from the scorekeepers, those working the clock, the organizers and people like Noel Kaludjak who announce and play the music," he said, adding that the level of hockey in the other Kivalliq communities continues to be solid.
"It's not perfect and there's always things we can do better, but, overall, the level of hockey and the organizational framework that supports it has never been better," he said.
Rankin rec co-ordinator and RIMHA president David Clark says that support helped make this year's season opener hockey camp for minor hockey a huge success.
Clark is one of the core group of people organizing, developing and facilitating the camp, which attracted 150 players last month. "I couldn't be more proud of the job our youth leaders did during the camp," he said. "When you add our sponsors and the great job the guys at the rink do every year, the camp is really a community effort we should all be proud of."
Clark said former RIMHA players Roger Tagoona and Sidney Nichol came home to help with the camp, as well as 13 camp leaders who are still in the RIMHA program.
"We try to keep the camp as local as possible, and a lot of the players and parents commented on the improvement they noticed during the week," said Clark. He says many of the kids were thankful not just for the chance to get on the ice every day in the first week of the season, but to learn new skills on the ice, in the gym and what it takes to be a good teammate in the classroom.
"The camp gets the kids engaged right from the beginning of the season, gives them good habits to work on, helps improve their skills on the ice, and gives them an idea of what to expect in the coming season," said Clark.
Clark said learning how to be a good teammate in the literacy component is a huge benefit to the kids.
He said it also helps them develop leadership skills.
"That tells you you're doing something right, and all the smiling faces during the week tells you all the rest you need to know."
