Gene Jenks proudly held up his SA国际影视传媒渕ost likely to hit the boards to stopSA国际影视传媒� award during a year-end event for the Inuvik CanSA国际影视传媒檛 Skate League Friday, April 21.

Jenks has been playing in the league for all three years of its existence.

SA国际影视传媒淲hen I started three years ago I could not skate, I couldnSA国际影视传媒檛 stop,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淧laying one hour a week during the wintertime for three years now I can stop. I can skate pretty fast. I canSA国际影视传媒檛 skate backwards yet, but thereSA国际影视传媒檚 definitive improvement.SA国际影视传媒�

The league is a recreational hockey program for people with very little to no rink skills to come together for a relaxed opportunity to learn.

Players donSA国际影视传媒檛 keep score and the whole premise is to help the beginners. Some skaters canSA国际影视传媒檛 skate at all, while others might be decent players.

SA国际影视传媒淭he premise is to play down to the level,SA国际影视传媒� said Genks. SA国际影视传媒淚f youSA国际影视传媒檙e a canSA国际影视传媒檛 skater and youSA国际影视传媒檙e playing with what we call a can skater, they will make a point to set you up for a goal, theySA国际影视传媒檒l pass to you. They wonSA国际影视传媒檛 take the puck away, but if they see you improving, they will heighten up their level too.SA国际影视传媒�

Forty-four unique players took part in the league this year, which meets once a week for an hour. 10 of those players were women. A total of 327 people played over the course of the year.

SA国际影视传媒淪ome weeks we had over 20 people,SA国际影视传媒� said Jenks, adding that the best turnout night was 24, and thankfully no more, as his insurance covers up to 25 people.

Inspiration for the league came from how many people share the story of wishing they had learned to skate as a youth or kick themselves for dropping out of it when young.

SA国际影视传媒淭his is the opportunity for both kinds of people to hit the ice in a very non-competitive format to learn how to play,SA国际影视传媒� said Jenks.

ItSA国际影视传媒檚 an hour a week to get away from the burdens of life, he continued.

SA国际影视传媒淓very time you get off the ice, everybodySA国际影视传媒檚 smiling. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 therapeutic.SA国际影视传媒�

Jenks hopes to continue the groupSA国际影视传媒檚 momentum next hockey season. He encourages anyone to join up.

Players have to have their own equipment, depending on their comfort level, but Jenks recommends full gear for beginners.

Jenks also won awards for SA国际影视传媒渕ost likely to fall on his buttSA国际影视传媒� and SA国际影视传媒渂est Bambi on the ice impression.SA国际影视传媒�

George Parkes was voted most improved.