Rankin takes atoms crown
First-year coach blown away by crowd in Rankin arena
Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Wednesday, February 8, 2017
RANKIN INLET
Rankin Rock A built a 6-1 lead and held on through a furious comeback attempt by Coral Harbour to take the annual Arctic Atoms hockey crown by a score of 7-3.
Tourney MVP Kayden Eetuk, Gregory Wiseman and Kane Towtongie, from left, of the Rankin Rock A squad claim the championship trophy after defeating Coral Harbour to take the Arctic Atoms hockey title in Rankin Inlet on Jan. 29. - Darrell Greer/NNSL photo |
Arviat defeated Naujaat 12-11 to claim bronze in what was, arguably, the most exciting game of the event.
Also competing were Rankin Rock B, the Rock Girls squad, Baker Lake and the Rankin Rock novice squad.
Every Kivalliq community except Whale Cove had players compete in this year's Arctic Atoms tourney.
Rock A head coach Katie Bell said Wayne Kusugak took the assistant coach duties when year-long assistant Dave Wiseman had to go south for medical reasons a few weeks ago. Wiseman isn't expected to rejoin the team until the end of this month.
Bell, who moved to Rankin for a teaching position at Maani Ulujuk Ilinniarvik in September of 2016, said she played hockey when she was younger and wanted to help out with the local program.
"I approached David Clark (Rankin Inlet Minor Hockey Association president) about volunteering, they needed a coach, I said I would do it, and here I am," said Bell.
"I also helped coach the girls in the Arctic Atoms."
Bell said her first experience with a minor hockey tournament in Rankin was "absolutely incredible."
She said the number of fans who came out to watch nine-to-11-year-olds play hockey simply blew her away.
"I couldn't believe how many people came out to support the tournament, and that's not to mention we raised more than $16,000 in two days to go towards a tournament in Manitoba later this month.
"To have that amount of people cheering in that arena, it really felt like I was at an NHL game.
"I've never experienced anything like that.
"I was a varsity athlete in university, and I've had my fair share of crowds around a track in an arena, but nothing compared to how loud it was here for the final game."
Bell said she was also surprised by the level of competitiveness she saw during the tourney, especially when it came down to four teams.
She said she's with her atom team three times a week, but the way her players stepped up in the final was like watching a different team.
"Most of the teams were strong in their own way, but the players on our team, and Coral Harbour, were just incredible to watch in the final.
"The girl's team was only formed that weekend, and how quickly they came together as a team was something to see.
"The level of play for atoms was above and beyond what I've seen in the south.
"I can't say enough about how incredible of an experience it was for me."
The kids on Rankin Rock A were totally pumped in the dressing room after the final game.
And, Bell said, the champs weren't the only ones glowing in triumph when the tournament was over.
She said the girls were totally excited to have won the placement game that awarded them fifth place.
"I've never seen girls so ecstatic, dancing when the music came on, and really having a great time after just really meeting each other.
"The boys who won gold were very positive, talking about plays they made and goals they scored, and they wore their gold medals to the pizza party for all the players after the tournament.
"We have 35 kids and, unfortunately, we can't have that many on one team, but they came together at the pizza party as one, and the win for was all the atom players, not just the A team.
"This was an experience I'm never going to forget and I'm so thankful I got to be a part of it."
Kusugak said the tournament was also a great experience for him, and winning gold was awesome.
But it was a game most people wouldn't think of that really made the difference for him.
"When our A team played the novice team, our players did their best to make sure it was a good time for the novice kids," said Kusugak.
"Some of our players on the ice fell down - it was obvious to us it was on purpose - and made it realistic enough for the novice team to celebrate its first tournament goal.
"Winning gold was great, but that was the highlight of the tournament for me."
Kusugak said he was getting a little nervous when Coral cut the gap to 6-3 in the third, and were still putting on the pressure.
He said it's a whole different point of view behind the bench from when you're on the ice playing.
"Our little goalie (Preston Kaludjak) made an amazing glove save to keep it 6-3 with about four minutes left and, after that, I just felt we had it.
"When you have Rankin and Coral in the final, you're going to have a great crowd in Rankin no matter what age group is playing, and, with my experience in minor and senior hockey in Rankin, I wasn't surprised at how many people were there.
"It's a great experience for all the kids, especially those from out of town, to have that many people at their game cheering them on.
"The kids were on cloud 12 after winning the final, and it was just a great experience for me to coach a bit for my first time."
