Skip to content

All for the love of the game

Arviat hockey enthusiast loves every aspect of being involved with the game of hockey
250514-kivhockeyjourneyphoto
Arviat players, from left, Ryley Komakjuak, Cam Kaludjak, Mark Kalluak, Gleason Uppahuak (general manager), Dexter Kalluak and William Uppahuak pose for a picture at the Oskana Cup in Regina, Sask., in May 2024. All players pictured are returning to Team Kivalliq again this year.

When it comes to the sport of hockey and all for the love of the game, Arviat's Gleason Uppahuak is tough to beat.

Uppahuak said when he first started playing, he would never have believed he would, one day, be putting Team Kivalliq together with David Clark of Rankin Inlet.

He said he always wanted to help the quality of Arviat hockey improve and then, ultimately, the quality of Kivalliq hockey at the minor league levels.

“I started really thinking I could do this — putting a team together to represent the Kivalliq — when social media started blowing up and I began seeing these all-native hockey tournaments being held at all different times of the year,” said Uppahuak.

“We couldn't have a really good small community team competing at all these big regional native tournaments, so I thought it was a really good idea to establish a regional team for every age group.

“It was in David Clark's office in Rankin Inlet back in 2015 when I asked him why don't we watch all these Rankin Inlet tournaments, select all the top kids and go down to Winnipeg for their provincial native tournaments?

“He was excited about the idea, so that's, really, where it all began.”

One area of selecting teams no coach or general manager ever enjoys is telling a player, or their parents, that he or she hasn't made the team.

Uppahuak said that's the advantage of selecting a team from watching tournament play, as opposed to holding official tryouts.

However, he said, he did have a few occasions where a parent would phone him demanding to know why their child wasn't selected for the team.

“I was really bothered by it. I wanted every kid to be able to play, but the pyramid of the teams that we're trying to form to be competitive, of course, just doesn't allow for that.

“I play to win, so I pick the best players. I'm a straight-up dude and I go straight to the point. I tell them I'm sorry, but the team has already been selected, so we'll look at it again next year.”

Uppahuak said being part of selecting the best minor hockey team from the Kivalliq to compete in the south is something he hopes to keep doing for a very long time.

He said he simply loves hockey and can't envision the day when he's not involved with the game at a top level.

“I make sure the coaches are involved in the team selection. At the atom, peewee and bantam levels, for example, we assign a couple of coaches and give them full authority over who plays.

“David (Clark) and I assign the players to them and the coaches take it from there.”

Uppahuak said he enjoys a general manager's duties every bit as much as playing.

He said being involved with the game is the most important thing to him, no matter in what capacity.

“Any hockey is the same for me, whether I play it, coach it or manage it, I always get the same feeling.

“Even watching hockey, favourite moments just seem to happen because I love the game so much.

“I give 100 per cent to whatever position I might be in — playing, coaching, managing — and always enjoy it. I even have fun if I'm reffing a game.

“It's just who I am. I love the game. I can't see that ever changing!”



About the Author: Darrell Greer, Local Journalism Initiative

Read more