Nunavut making hockey history at Canada Winter Games

“We knew we were going to have some tough games just given our background and lack of experience, but the experience itself and the opportunity for these kids to play at this stage is amazing,” says head coach Martin Joy.

“We’re doing what we came down here to do. We came here to compete as hard as we can and see where we’re at. We’re quite confident out there. Without looking at the scores, I think we can play. But the experience for the kids is paramount with nothing but fun and just enjoying the opportunity.”

The process of building a Nunavut hockey team for the 2019 Canada Winter Games began about four years ago. With no organized hockey currently being played in the territory, most of the players have only ever skated on their natural ice rinks, playing shinny with their friends.

The Arctic Winter Games two years ago provided an opportunity to start identifying players for this year’s squad. Seven players have experience with various academy programs, giving the Nunavut squad a valuable core of leaders.

“They are our top players and can compete with anyone on this stage,” Joy surmises. “The other guys, they’re learning. They’re making mistakes out there, but the amount of growth and development these guys are getting over this week, you can’t measure it by what’s on the scoreboard.”

“These guys don’t have much experience, so we’re trying to get them going,” says forward Josie Cote, who plays with Ontario Hockey Academy in Cornwall. “They’ve all been playing in small communities for fun. They don’t have any organized hockey so we’re trying to get them going and teach them a few things.”

Cote says it’s fun being a hockey trailblazer for Nunavut.

“It’s amazing,” said Cote. “Getting that first win was the (best) thing to ever happen to us.”

Joy admits it’s been tough for his team to match the energy they came out with in their first tilt.

“We liked what we brought to the table. We left a lot of our game at that first one, it was a lot of emotional energy just from the pressure and stress the boys feel from everyone back home watching them. A lot of people have taken interest in the story of these kids, so they just gave it everything they had.”

For Team Nunavut, this week is about laying the groundwork for growing the sport of hockey in their home territory.

“You just want to light a spark in all these kids and give them something to work towards. That’s the goal of minor hockey in Nunavut and we couldn’t be prouder to be part of it,” Joy explains.

“These kids love it. They’re there to give back to their communities and are leaders in their communities.”

Team Nunavut plays their final preliminary game Monday afternoon versus Northwest Territories (4 p.m. at the Downtown Arena).

by Troy Gillard (Twitter: @Troy_Gillard)

Nunavut making hockey history at Canada Winter Games

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