Twerdin hockey tournament going ahead but without beer garden

There won’t be a beer garden at this year’s Brian Twerdin Toonik Tyme Memorial Hockey Tournament, but organizers are still gearing up for an exciting four days of hockey in Iqaluit.

In past years’ tournaments, the Iqaluit Hockey League has run a beer garden at Arctic Winter Games Arena to raise money for the league and cover tournament costs such as facility rental fees, insurance and paying referees.

“Unfortunately, we won’t be able to do it this year and that’s impacted our operations,” league president Robert Comeau said in an interview.

“Thankfully, we have a tremendous amount of support from the community and support from businesses in the community that are able to ensure that this event is going to move forward.”

This year’s tournament runs from April 16 to 19.

Nunavut’s Liquor Act allows organizations to apply for permits to operate a beer garden at community events with support from the local municipal council.

However, Iqaluit city council denied the hockey league’s request for a letter of support during its March 24 meeting in a 3-1 vote.

Deputy Mayor Kim Smith said at the meeting she had heard concerns from residents and recreation staff, including that people were smoking in the arena stands, that having just one set of bathrooms wasn’t sufficient, and that the arena isn’t set up for a beer garden.

“You have people there with their families mingling with the people who are there for the beer garden,” Smith said at the meeting in March.

“I don’t think — until we have a facility that allows more separation — that this is something that I can continue to support because I have heard a number of concerning things.”

Comeau said the league is committed to working with city staff and council to address the concerns Smith raised.

Despite the change, he said he’s looking forward to a fast-paced, high-calibre tournament with 10 teams competing from Iqaluit, other Nunavut communities and Nunavik.

Four teams will compete in the A division, while six will face off in the B division, which are organized based on teams’ skill levels. Schedules are still being finalized.

A $3,000 cash prize is up for grabs for each winning team, while the runners-up will take home $1,500. (It costs $1,500 to enter a team in the tournament.)

Canadian North is chipping in by flying in some referees from the south, which Comeau said improves the play on the ice.

Admission to the games is free, and the league is also working on setting up a live broadcast for people to watch remotely.

The hockey tournament — a longtime Iqaluit spring tradition coinciding with the Toonik Tyme festival — added Brian Twerdin’s name to its title in 2023 in honour of the Iqaluit businessman, community leader and volunteer who died in 2022 and who was passionate about hockey.

“We’re really looking forward to having everybody come to town and come to the rink,” Comeau said.

“It’s been a great year for hockey in Iqaluit and in Nunavut, so we’re looking to kind of continue that momentum forward.”