Iqaluit to mount Hockeyville bid?

Mayor Elisapee Sheutiapik told councillors Tuesday the city should consider entering the annual Kraft Hockeyville competition this year.

Sheutiapik said a local “hockey mom” contacted her urging the city to mount a bid in the contest, the winner of which gets $100,000 in arena repairs and gets to host an NHL pre-season game.

The mayor said hockey parents recently raised $70,000 to send teams to the Bell Capital Cup in Ottawa. “There’s that kind of commitment to hockey in the community.”

Sheutiapik said the city needs as many photos, videos and stories about hockey as possible for the bid, which is due Monday. She’s hosting a meeting at city hall this Friday at 1 p.m. to get the ball rolling.

Salluit, Yellowknife and Haines Junction, Yukon are already in the running for this year’s edition.

The CBC also announced this week that a Jan. 30 game between the Ottawa Senators and the Montreal Canadiens will be the first ever broadcast in Inuktitut. CBC North broadcaster Charlie Panigoniak will handle the play-by-play duties for the Inuktitut feed, which will be available on Bell ExpressVu.