Iqaluit teams take gold in annual Laura Gauthier Memorial volleyball tournament

It was an opportunity for student to take on teacher in the men’s final of the Laura Gauthier Memorial volleyball tournament in Rankin Inlet. But it was the teachers who won over the weekend.

“They had us on our toes the entire match,” said Jonah Oolayou, a member of the winning team.

The annual tournament was held from May 2 to 5. It brought teams from across Nunavut to the hub of the Kivalliq region to compete in men’s and women’s divisions.

The tournament is held in memory of Laura Gauthier, who died in 2000. Originally from Pangnirtung, she helped grow the popularity of volleyball in Rankin Inlet, tournament organizer Reanna Johnston said.

One of its more intriguing storylines was the men’s gold medal final between Team Iqaluit and Team Baffin, she said.

Team Baffin was coached by a couple of players who were a part of Team Iqaluit.

Oolayou was one of the Team Baffin coaches, but also a Team Iqaluit player.

Team Baffin played the final match without a coach while Oolayou and another of its regular coaches were on the court with Team Iqaluit.

He said the final game was tightly contested, with Team Iqaluit winning in the fourth set 31-29.

“We, at times, thought we were going to lose,” Oolayou said.

Team Baffin was composed mostly of the 2024 Arctic Winter Games boys’ volleyball team, which Oolayou also coached.

Team Iqaluit, while older, ranged in age from 20 to 30 years old, Oolayou said.

He said that as a coach, there were high hopes for Team Baffin going into the tournament.

“They put on a real good show, fought hard each match to reach the final,” he added.

While the men’s final was suspenseful, there was more volleyball played on the women’s side. Johnston said there were 12 women’s team and nine men’s teams in the tournament.

“There’s always lots of excitement as teams come in,” she said. “There [were] lots of competitive teams this year.”

The women’s version of Team Iqaluit also took home gold, beating Familia in four sets.

Beyond having both women and men in the tournament, the age range was vast, Johnston said, with players as young as 14 and as old as 64.

Communities at the tournament included Naujaat, Baker Lake, Pangnirtung, Whale Cove, Arviat, Rankin Inlet and Iqaluit.

Johnston said organizing the tournament went smoothly this year as no flights were cancelled. Organizers are already preparing for the next tournament.

“We’re already looking at dates for next year,” she said.

In terms of the growth of volleyball in the territory, Oolayou had a positive response.

“It’s only getting better,” he said.