They lost Jordin Tootoo after an injury in semifinals play, but Team Tootoo rallied to win the 2023 Terence Tootoo Memorial hockey tournament in Rankin Inlet Sunday, March 19.

Tootoo took a stick to the eye from Russell Matoo of Team Nunavut in a tight game that was decided in overtime, sending Team Tootoo to the finals against Niksik. Tootoo returned to the arena wearing an eye patch.

SA国际影视传媒淧art of hockey,SA国际影视传媒� said a jovial Tootoo before the final game of the tournament. SA国际影视传媒淵ou get a little banged up and whatnot. I had a bit of a scare the last game, semifinals, got a stick in the eye.SA国际影视传媒�

He said it was a hockey play and happens all the time.

SA国际影视传媒淭o the young guy, Russ Matoo, keep your head up high,SA国际影视传媒� said Tootoo. SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 hockey. I actually forget how it is to get hit in the face since being retired for four or five years now.SA国际影视传媒�

In the finals, underdogs Niksik took an early lead 3-1 off goals from Tyrese Dias, Zack Lille and Mitchel Tilley.

Nathan Gardner and Sateana Goupil pulled the game back to a 3-3 tie for Team Tootoo, with Wendel Kaludjak and Qaritaq Kusugak-Clark finishing the job for a 5-3 win.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 pretty emotional right now,SA国际影视传媒� said Pujjuut Kusugak, captain of Team Tootoo, following the win. SA国际影视传媒淢y sonSA国际影视传媒檚 on the team playing with Jordin and a whole bunch of us that got together to play in this thing. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 the best feeling ever. ISA国际影视传媒檓 so proud of our guys for being able to work hard and come back like that. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 going to be an important one for a long time.SA国际影视传媒�

He said the team knew they could win the whole game and focused on grinding and getting their chances.

SA国际影视传媒淪ure enough, we got big goals from our top line,SA国际影视传媒� said Kusugak.

Tootoo was glad to see the memorial tournament held for the first time in the new Agnico Eagle Arena.

SA国际影视传媒淔ar too often in remote communities, we seem to come together when thereSA国际影视传媒檚 a death in the family, but this weekend the community support has been second to none,SA国际影视传媒� said Tootoo, adding that his brother Terence, after whom the event is dedicated, was a great hockey player himself. SA国际影视传媒淓very day the arena has been jampacked. Hockey in Rankin has always been counted on for the community to come together, and to have an arena like this where everybody can fit in one sitting, itSA国际影视传媒檚 awesome.SA国际影视传媒�

He was impressed with the Team Nunavut squad, who recently earned the territorySA国际影视传媒檚 first-ever Arctic Winter Games hockey gold.

SA国际影视传媒淭hey have a lot of great potential,SA国际影视传媒� said Tootoo. SA国际影视传媒淭his tournament, they were right there. They could have beat us. ISA国际影视传媒檓 looking forward to seeing a lot of these youngsters be successful in the hockey world down south.SA国际影视传媒�

Tootoo said his family appreciates all the support and he looks forward to making the TTM even bigger in the future.

SA国际影视传媒淲e want to get bigger and better, and weSA国际影视传媒檙e going to do that,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

Over in the B division of the tournament, Team Todd surpassed Eskimo Point in the finals 5-4.