Arctic Bay Impact takes Qamutik Cup for 2nd year in a row
Annual hockey tournament held in celebration of Nunavut Quest
Players face off during the semifinal game between the Igloolik Islanders and Arctic Bay Impact during Qamutik Cup action. (Photo by Bernice Saqtuqsi, special to Nunatsiaq News)
Four out-of-town hockey teams arrived in Pond Inlet last week by Ski-Doo and qamutik, ready to face off against two home teams for this year’s Qamutik Cup hockey tournament.
Every year the Qamutik Cup hockey tournament takes place at the finishing community of Nunavut Quest dogsled race.
The six teams in this year’s Cup were the Igloolik Islanders, Arctic Bay Impact, Arctic Bay North Star, Clyde River Sharks, Pond Inlet Arluit, and Pond Inlet Qilalugait.
The tournament started April 22 with round-robin games. Fans filled the arena with horns, noise makers, megaphones and enthusiastic cheering.
Playoffs started April 26 with the Igloolik Islanders and Arctic Bay North Stars playing in the bronze medal match. The final score was 13-4 with Igloolik winning bronze.
Arctic Bay Impact faced off against Pond Inlet Arluit in the gold medal game. The final score was 6-4 with Arctic Bay Impact winning the Cup for the second year in a row.
The crowd cheered when Arctic Bay Impact won. The team will bring the Cup back to Arctic Bay.
Final standing of the tournament is:
- 1st place – Team 1 Arctic Bay Impact (Captain: Moses Kigutak)
- 2nd place – Team 1 Pond Inlet Arluit (Captain: Danny Maktar)
- 3rd place – Igloolik Islanders (Captain: Dino Akearok)
- 4th place – Team 2 Arctic Bay North Stars (Captain: Sean Shappa)
- 5th place – Pond Inlet Qilalugait (Captain: Sim Aksarak)
- 6th place – Clyde River Sharks (Captain: Sim Aksarguk)
Tournament award winners are:
- Most Valuable Player – Danny Maktar from Pond Inlet Arluit
- Best Offence – Danny Maktar from Pond Inlet Arluit
- Best Defenceman – Michael Irngaut from Igloolik Islanders
- Best Goalie – Joamie Koonark from Pond Inlet Qilalugait
- Best Sportsmanship – Alonzo Apak from Clyde River Shark
Hockey wives and girlfriends in Pond Inlet volunteered to cook homemade lunches and dinners for all travelling hockey players and their families. At the conclusion of the tournament on April 29, a turkey dinner feast celebrated the hockey teams and in appreciation for the volunteers.
The volunteer committee in Pond Inlet secured a total of $18,923 in sponsorships and fundraising. The sponsors of this year’s Qamutik Cup tournament are Hamlet of Pond Inlet, Baffinland, Seltzer Chan, and Pond Inlet Co-op.
Next year’s Qamutik Cup will take place in Igloolik at the conclusion of the 2025 Nunavut Quest.
Players take part in the award ceremony for the 2024 Qamutik Cup in Pond Inlet. (Photo by Bernice Satuqsi, special to Nunatsiaq News)
This article and the accompanying pictures are the result of a partnership between Nunatsiaq News and Igloolik youth participating in the Nunavut Quest Field Course, a project sponsored by QIA and the Ilagiiktunut Fund.
Always good to attend this tournament.
It was the Arctic Bay North Stars playing against Igloolik Islanders when Igloolik won the bronze medal.