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April 18, 2003
Kuujjuaq wins Toonik
Tyme hockey tournament
Kuujjuaq took the gold
away from hometown favourites the Iqaluit Senators in the annual Toonik Tyme
hockey tournament Aug. 13.
Both Kuujjuaq and the Iqaluit
Senators entered the gold-medal game undefeated in the 10-team round robin tournament.
But, despite a last minute
push by the Iqaluit Senators, Kuujjuaq won the final 5 to 4.
Organizer Simon Adams said this year's tournament drew crowds of 800 and an
unprecedented number of Nunavik teams to Iqaluit's arena.
All four Nunavik teams
and two Nunavut teams made it to the five-day tournament's quarter-finals. Kuujjuaq
immediately advanced to the semi-finals, while Kangiqsujuaq defeated Quaqtaq
in one quarter-final match and Rankin Inlet beat Kangirsuk in the other.
The Iqaluit Senators then
went on to defeat Kangiqsujjuaq 6 to 3 in the semi finals while Kuujjuaq beat
Rankin Inlet 4 to 2.
Kangiqsujuaq lost to Rankin
Inlet in the bronze medal round.
Adams said the high-level
of play inspired both Nunavut and Nunavik teams to play more tournaments together
in the future.
Iqaluit's Randy Qamaniq
was voted the tournament's best goalie, Nicol Towtongie of Rankin Inlet most
valuable player, Kuujjuaq's Alain Pilon best defenceman and Richard Adams of
Kuujjuaq earned the most points in the tournament.
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