Nunavut boys find hockey heaven in Edmonton

Nolan Norberg and his dad Quentin Norberg, left, and Chad Eetoolook with his dad Jackie Kameemalik, stand beside the famous Gretzky statue outside Rexall Place March 3, home of the Edmonton Oilers. (PHOTO COURTESY OF RONDA IVENS)

Special to Nunatsiaq News

CAMBRIDGE BAY — The winners of the Kitikmeot’s Shoot for Success contest reaped their rewards on March 3, and got more than they bargained for.

Nolan Norberg, a Grade 1 student from Kugluktuk’s Jimmy Hikok Ilihakvik elementary school, and Grade 8 student Chad Eetoolook of Gjoa Haven won an all expenses paid trip to Edmonton to see the Oilers play the Los Angeles Kings, thanks to a school attendance project in western Nunavut.

Both boys had attendance rates of 95 per cent or higher from mid-December 2014 to the end of February, 2015.

Winners were randomly drawn from a pool of two eligible students from each class across the region.

On top of the free hotel, airfare, National Hockey League tickets and VIP passes to meet the Los Angeles Kings’ players, the boys and their dads also got to attend an Edmonton Oilers practice March 3.

After practice, they then got to visit the Oilers’ locker room and meet the players.

But the best was yet to come.

That night, Eetoolook and Norberg got to stand at the ice entrance-way and high-five the players as they went from the locker room to the ice before the game against the Kings.

At the game, they got to see inside the SportsNet media booth and also had their faces displayed on the Jumbroton while the announcer told the audience where the two had come from and why they were there.

The Oilers eventually lost the game, 5-2.

“The kids had an amazing day with lots of smiles,” said organizer Collin Goyman. “The feedback has been great from the communities in regards to attendance throughout the initiative. It’s a great capacity building opportunity between us and the communities we serve and live in. Couldn’t have turned out better for our kids.”