Team Eskimo Point defeated Naujaat 3-2 in a thrilling championship game in front of a large crowd to claim the 2025 edition of the Polar Bear Plate in Rankin Inlet on Sunday, March 9.
The Rankin Rock defeated the Salliq Warriors 5-2 to claim bronze at the event, while North Dudesins triumphed over Baker Lake 4-3 in a shootout to take the consolation game.
Eskimo Point knocked off Salliq 5-3 in one semifinal to advance to the championship game, while Naujaat downed the Rankin Rock 6-2 in the other semi to advance.
All games during the weekend action were live streamed on YouTube by Gabe Karlik and Rico Manitok.
Team Eskimo Point head coach Gleason Uppahuak said this year's Plate was one of his all-time favourites, having captured his first Polar Bear Plate championship for Arviat.
He said he found most of the teams to be fairly evenly matched.
“The final game was very fast, clean hockey, just like it always is when Arviat meets Naujaat,” said Uppahuak. “I looked at us as being the team to beat going into the final and my boys came through.
“My boys were very confident and did a great job protecting our one-goal lead in the third period, especially killing off the penalty we took late in the third.
“I believed in this team right from the start.”
Uppahuak said shutting down the other team's offence was the strongest part of Eskimo Point's game.
He said that was evident as the team went through the tournament with a perfect 5-0 record.
“We'll be back next year to defend our championship. I've never missed a Polar Bear Plate since the tournament first started. Back in the early days, we always met Rankin Inlet in the final but they were always just a little too strong for us. You could say, for me, this championship was 20 years in the making.
“We knew the championship game against Naujaat was going to be close after having to score two goals in the final two minutes of the third period to beat them in the round robin. They had a very strong team this year.
“This year's tournament was a 10 out of 10 and one I'll remember for a long time.”
