Thanks for supporting female hockey

A couple of weeks ago I attended the first ever all-female Hockey Skills Development Camp.

There were 26 other female players from Kugluktuk, Panniqtuq, Iqaluit, Igloolik, Cape Dorset and Arviat. These players gathered in Iqaluit with the help of First Air and Calm Air, and with funding from Hockey Nunavut, Sport Nunavut and the Iqaluit Amateur Hockey Association. Several participants, including me, took the coaching component that was also provided by Shannon Donovan and Trina Radcliffe from Hockey Canada.

There was even an inspiring pep talk on the various on- and off-ice opportunities for women in hockey. It was amazing to see so many young girls interested in the sport!

I would like to thank local businesses, including the Grind and Brew, Baffin Gas Bar, Northmart and Pizza Hut, all of which donated either food or beverages to keep the players energised.

Thanks also to the Frobisher Inn. City of Iqaluit and their arena staff, who kindly made themselves available on such a beautiful long weekend. And, finally, thanks to Mike Courtney and Robert Kavanaugh for their commitment, encouragement, and guidance.

With the kind of support seen above, I hope and expect to see a growing number of female hockey players in Nunavut this season and in the near future.

Laurie-Anne White
Iqaluit