Day 4 of AWG brings more gold to Nunavik, Nunavut

At the midway point of the Arctic Winter Games, Team Nunavut sits in the middle of the medal standings while Team Nunavik has garnered a pair of golds.

On Wednesday, strong showings in Arctic sports led to two gold medals for Nunavut’s Danica Taylor, in the two-foot high-kick and the arm pull.

Ivalu Leishman-Brocklebank also won gold in the arm pull for her age category, and Nunavut won a gold medal in the Dene games female team event for athletes born after 2006.

Silver medals went to Horizon Willie in the Dene games snow snake event for her age category, speedskater Miles Brewster for the male 500-metre race and Team Nunavut for the open male hand games.

Nunavut’s medal count now stands at 22, including 11 gold.

Team Nunavik won gold Wednesday in the Dene games open male hand games team event.

Deseray Cumberbatch had a good day in Arctic sports for Nunavik, winning a silver in the open female arm pull and a bronze in the open female two-foot high-kick.

Also in Arctic sports, Amy May took bronze in the kneel jump for her age category and Team Nunavik was awarded bronze in the Dene games open female hand games.

That brings Nunavik’s medal total to 11.

Team Nunavik badminton players are entering the medal stages of their singles, doubles and mixed doubles events.

Coach Paulusie Nuktie is coaching badminton for the second time at the Games, and previously competed as an athlete in 2016 and 2018.

“I really enjoy watching the athletes play and how they evolve game by game, day by day,” he said in an interview.

He mentioned one player on the team who celebrated after winning his first match on Monday, after competing for the first time at last year’s Arctic Winter Games held in Alberta but not securing a win.

“They’re just doing their absolute best and that’s all that really matters for me,” Nuktie said.

His advice to the players is to be themselves, try their absolute best, always have respect for others and not give up.

Badminton player Joanna Grist, competing in her first Arctic Winter Games, said she loves “smashing” the shuttlecock during game action and is looking forward to more match-ups, which continue through Friday.

Back at the rink, Nunavut’s under-18 male hockey team, which last year won gold, won’t repeat that historic victory at these Games.

The team was knocked out of gold medal contention on Wednesday. They do however have a chance at bronze when they play Team Yukon on Thursday.

Nunavut’s under-15 male hockey team and under-19 female team have been knocked out of medal contention. For female players Piunnguallaq Kusugak and Hailey Pameolik, getting the chance to compete as a team on the international stage is what’s most thrilling about the experience.

“It’s really fun. I like the competitiveness,” said Kusugak, 14, who is competing in her second Arctic Winter Games.

“This year, I’m seeing huge improvements thanks to these new coaches,” said Pameolik, 18, who’s competing for her third and final time at the Games, playing defence.

“We’ve never had this much structure.”

Both Kusugak and Pameolik agree that having a new professional women’s hockey league this year, the PWHL, is an exciting addition to the sport.

“Historically, this team has had trouble at these games, they’ve never won a game before,” coach Max Joy said, speaking to Nunatsiaq News ahead of the team’s final game Wednesday.

With more time to prepare this year, however, Joy said the coaches and players have tried to work on the team’s confidence out on the ice.

“The message is really to believe in yourself,” he said.

“These Games have been a success for us. Although on the scoreboard it doesn’t really show up, as a team we’ve really come together and meshed well and really achieved all our goals.”

The Arctic Winter Games, being held in Mat-Su Valley, Alaska, opened Sunday and will wrap up on Saturday.

Check out photos below for more highlights from the Games.