It may not have been easy, but the first hockey season run in a number of years by the Rankin Inlet Minor Hockey Association (RIMHA) without the communitySA国际影视传媒檚 mega-talented rec director was a solid success.

RIMHA board member Gavin Gee coached the U13 age group this past season and said he sees, on average, about 200 kids go in and out of the arena on any given night.

He said you also see road hockey being played throughout the community on a continual basis.

SA国际影视传媒淭heySA国际影视传媒檙e out there playing road hockey every single night, whether itSA国际影视传媒檚 -40C or a beautiful evening,SA国际影视传媒� said Gee. SA国际影视传媒淒rive around Rankin and youSA国际影视传媒檒l see road hockey nets everywhere.

SA国际影视传媒淎nd Rankin is home to one of the most successful individuals in the world in regards to indigenous hockey, Jordin Tootoo.

SA国际影视传媒淜ids here just love hockey.SA国际影视传媒�

Gee said heSA国际影视传媒檚 watched kids who could have skated down the wrong path in life stay on the straight and narrow because playing hockey kept them busy and gave them goals in life.

He said over the years, thanks to the help of organized sports in general, heSA国际影视传媒檚 seen many youth develop good habits and choose the right path in life.

SA国际影视传媒淩ankin strongly supports hockey and that helps it to continue growing as a strong community. Two people who have done so much to make it work are Donald and David Clark. TheySA国际影视传媒檝e done so much for hockey in this community.

SA国际影视传媒淎nother group are the refs. They make the games fair, which is so important because, as we all know, you put a bunch of kids on the ice with no rules and youSA国际影视传媒檙e not going to get the results you want.

SA国际影视传媒淭hereSA国际影视传媒檚 nothing odd about that. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 normal kid behaviour.SA国际影视传媒�

Gee said, overall, the past minor-hockey season went well in Rankin.

He said the community had some huge skates to fill when recreation director David Clark went away to attend a sports coaching and management program at a Finnish university.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檒l never totally fill those skates, because we donSA国际影视传媒檛 have what David brings to the table in terms of experience and know how. But that doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 mean we canSA国际影视传媒檛 make it happen.

SA国际影视传媒淲e have to do it because of his legacy and what heSA国际影视传媒檚 accomplishing in his life right now.

SA国际影视传媒淲e canSA国际影视传媒檛 let die what we, as hockey parents, see as such a wonderful thing because David had to step aside for a little while. We all have to step-up and get it done. And, hopefully, weSA国际影视传媒檒l get better year after year. In lots of ways, that was a real rallying call this season.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 not a matter of whether you want to or not. We have to make this work because, when it boils down to why, itSA国际影视传媒檚 all about the kids. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 about helping the younger generation keep out of trouble, stay

involved in something positive and create goals in life.SA国际影视传媒�

Gee said thereSA国际影视传媒檚 a lot of parents in Rankin who need to be thanked for their efforts in organizing, fundraising and supporting hockey in Rankin, and a big thank you is owed to A.J. Curley, Hannah Siksik and Craig Collier for making the past year work.

He said running a successful hockey program is a total team effort, on and off the ice.

SA国际影视传媒淭hey say it takes a whole community to raise a child, so I would say it takes a whole community to raise every child. And, putting the time in to run hockey, or any organized sport, is part of that.

SA国际影视传媒淥ur tournaments went OK this past season, and each one went over well with the community, but thereSA国际影视传媒檚 room for adjustment. With any event, you have to hold yourself accountable. For U9 to U18, we housed people from all over the Kivalliq and approximately 240 to 260 players at each tournament.

SA国际影视传媒淭hat good for not just Rankin, but the whole Kivalliq area. Scheduling is always tough because we have a tournament right after Christmas and then itSA国际影视传媒檚 weekend, after weekend, after weekend, after that.

SA国际影视传媒淭hatSA国际影视传媒檚 tough because people do get tired, so thatSA国际影视传媒檚 one aspect where there is a little room for adjustment. But, we got through it and, most importantly, the kids got to play and really enjoy themselves. And thatSA国际影视传媒檚 what itSA国际影视传媒檚 all about.SA国际影视传媒�