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Emotional win at Arviat JLM
Rankin players claim hockey crown for people at home

Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Wednesday,February 1, 2017

ARVIAT
The players on Team Rankin Inlet rode their emotions to a convincing 8-4 win over the Arviat Kings to capture the annual Jon Lindell Memorial (JLM) Calm Air Cup senior men's championship in Arviat this past month.

NNSL photo/graphic

Bubsy Kusugak accepts the JLM Calm Air Cup senior men's championship trophy from tourney organizer Gleason Uppahuak in Arviat on Jan. 22. - Darrell Greer/NNSL photo

The tournament ran from Jan. 18 to 22.

The Arviat Stars regrouped after a heartbreaking 5-4 double-overtime loss to the Kings to defeat the Karetakers and claim bronze at the event.

Rankin got past the Karetakers in its semifinal to set up the championship game.

Whale Cove and the Arviat Wolves, Jets and Polar Bears rounded out the field.

Chad Taipana (Rankin) was named tourney MVP, while Harvey Taparti (Kings) was best forward, Kyle Misheralak (Stars) best goalie, Wayne Kusugak (Karetakers) best defenceman and Darren Ikakhik (Kings) most sportsmanlike player.

Players and fans alike were rocked by the news on Jan. 21 that three family members from Rankin Inlet had lost their lives when the Bombardier they were driving to Arviat crashed through the ice in the Sandy Point area near Whale Cove.

A number of Rankin players, including star forward Wendel Kaludjak and consistent point-scoring winger Andrew Simms, headed back to Rankin on a charter after receiving the news.

Taipana said a number of teams at the JLM were evenly matched, with all four semifinal clubs having a legitimate shot at the title.

He said both the Whale Cove and Arviat Wolves squads were also competitive.

"It was good to see so many teams trying to be better than they were last year," said Taipana.

"We continued on with a short bench, but we were thinking of everyone back home and we really wanted to bring the Cup home with us.

"We talked about it in the first intermission of the final, when the Zamboni broke down for a bit, and that extra 15 minutes helped us a lot.

"We only had six forwards and three defencemen, but we came out flying in the second period."

Taipana said it was quiet in the dressing room for a while, after losing so much firepower from their lineup.

He said the players who remained were in shock over the tragic news, but they knew they still had enough talent to do some serious damage in the playoffs.

"It's hard to explain, but we knew we had to win this tournament.

"With James (Merritt) unable to play because of an ankle injury, Ethan (Makpah) really stepped up and played awesome in net for us.

"That was the best I've seen him play, and he made a lot of big saves for us.

"He didn't have much chance on the goals that did beat him."

Taipana also played his best hockey of the past couple of years in leading Rankin to the Cup and being named tourney MVP.

He said he was driven by his desire to win the Cup for the people of Rankin.

"I was thinking about the guys back home before we want on the ice for every game, and, pretty much, before every shift," said Taipana.

"I knew we still had the guys to get it done and, even though we were down 3-2 after the first period of the final, I just knew we were going to win that hockey game.

"They had a lot of Naujaat players, but we knew if we could outwork them we were going to beat them.

"Our plan was not to give them any room, and they got a little frustrated because every time they got the puck, there was a Rankin sweater right on them."

Organizer Gleason Uppahuak, who also played with the Stars, said other than the shadow of the Rankin tragedy, the tournament went very smoothly.

He said the games on playoff Sunday were especially exciting to watch.

"Almost every game on Sunday could have gone either way, especially in the semifinals," said Uppahuak.

"I'm disappointed we lost, of course, but our double-overtime semifinal with the Kings was an awesome hockey game to be a part of.

"The fans were very supportive this year, with no incidents or racial slurs of any kind, and that made me happy.

"We want to be seen as a welcoming community when we host a tournament, and our fans are starting to listen, which makes it better for everyone."

Uppahuak said hosting the JLM Calm Air Cup is a real community effort.

He said even though the odds may have been against them, it didn't surprise him to see Rankin win.

"The level of play in Rankin's senior league is a few notches up compared to the rest of the communities in the region.

"Rankin is always going to be in the playoffs, and it's always going to be a threat to win because there's so many good hockey players there.

"On the Saturday of the JLM, Arviat minor hockey hosted a penny sale, bake sale, food tables, a giant raffle and a bingo game which kept our community hall very busy and raised much-needed funds for our minor players.

"We couldn't do the JLM every year without the sponsorships we receive from our business community, so a big thank you, as well, to all those who help out."

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