Nunavut basketball players aim to make golden first impression at Summer Games

This story was updated on Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025, at 12:30 p.m. ET.

Team Nunavut is prepared to compete on the basketball court for the first time at the Canada Summer Games, which open Friday in St. John’s, N.L.

“I’m more excited than nervous,” said Kanina Duval, 17, a point guard from Baker Lake on the women’s team, adding she’s “honoured” to have the opportunity.

The players’ confidence is buoyed by nearly a week of intense, twice-daily practices at Ottawa’s Capital Courts, a private basketball training centre for elite athletes.

Team Nunavut head coaches Will Donkoh and Ashley Donkoh are leading the training regimen.

Word spread that the Arctic athletes arrived in town last Wednesday, and now Ottawa teams are lining up to play exhibition games against Team Nunavut before the players head to Newfoundland on Thursday, said Olivia Tapatai, an assistant coach with the women’s team.

“There’s a lot of teams interested in playing the Nunavut group,” she said. “There’s a lot of excitement.”

The feeling is mutual.

“I’m very excited to play against Ottawa,” said Skylor Tiktalek, 17, of Kugluktuk, who plays on the men’s team. “I don’t know what to expect, but I’m just excited to play.”

Basketball accounts for more than 40 per cent of Team Nunavut’s delegation, with 12 players each on the men’s and women’s teams plus coaches and managers.

Players range in age from 14 to 18 and come from Cambridge Bay, Baker Lake, Kugluktuk and Iqaluit.

The Nunavut men’s and women’s basketball teams both see their first action on Aug. 10 at 8:30 a.m., each facing teams from the Yukon.

The Nunavut players are going for gold, Tiktalek said.

“One of the themes that we’ve been discussing is being relentless and putting our best foot forward and bringing our best to the competition,” said Gavin Greenley, a men’s team assistant coach. “Going over the drills, going over the plays, and then just making sure that they’re having fun and having a good time and also making memories for a lifetime.”

The Canada Summer Games run from Aug. 8 to 25.

Correction: This story has been updated to correctly identify a head coach and player.