Arviat has a bad case of puck-drop fever as the 2025 Jon Lindell Memorial/Calm Air Cup senior men's hockey championship quickly approaches.
Unseasonably high temperatures forced the hamlet to close its arena's doors this past month, which delayed the conclusion of the Three-on-Three Christmas Challenge hockey tournament.
The local event featured five teams; Team Jimmy, Team Kyle, Team Noah, Team Andy and Team Jack.
Tournament organizer Gleason Uppahuak said the week's temperatures were between -1 C to -3 C for the entire Christmas week, forcing Arviat's arena, with natural ice, to close its doors until temperatures lowered enough to refreeze the ice surface.
Uppahuak said the Three-on-Three Christmas Challenge resumed play on Jan. 2, with the temperature plummeting to -31 C.
The arena closure did not force the cancellation of any of the community's scheduled tournaments, he added.
“We only had to pause the schedule of the Three-on-Three Christmas Challenge,” said Uppahuak. “Had we not had to shutter the arena for a week, the Three-on-Three Christmas Challenge would have been completed on Dec. 30. The delay meant play would continue until Jan. 5.
“We have the schedule in place now for our local Corporate Challenge, which gets underway on Jan. 16 and features four teams in action; Housing, the Hamlet, The Stores and a combined GN (Government of Nunavut) and Agnico Eagle squad.”
Uppahuak said the Corporate Challenge is followed by the crown jewel of Arviat hockey: the Jon Lindell Memorial/Calm Air Cup from Feb. 5 to Feb. 9.
He said a mini play-in tourney will be held for local squads before the main tournament begins.
“In last year's Calm Air Cup, we had three teams in the A Division, but, this year, we're looking at having between four to six teams in the A Division, competing for a grand prize of $10,000.
“We usually always host a little preliminary play-in round for the local Arviat teams (Old-timers, Young Guns, etc.) to determine which squad earns the right to represent the community in the B Division of the Calm Air Cup.
“We have the play-in tourney completed before the out-of-town teams arrive, so the main tourney isn't slowed down. We only have the one sheet of ice to hold the tournament on and we don't want teams in the A Division to have extended periods of time with no action.
“It isn't fair for those teams to have to wait eight-or-10 hours between games played in the A Division.”
Uppahuak said the Karetakers will return to defend their A Division crown this year, while his own Eskimo Point squad will defend the B Division title.
He said the Karetakers will be joined in 'A' by Rankin Inlet, Eskimo Point 'A' squad, Coral Harbour, Naujaat and a second Arviat team, while Eskimo Point will be challenged by five teams looking to claim their crown.
“Each squad will pay $1,000 to enter the B Division, which will create a $6,000 pot. The championship squad will take home $5,000, while the runner-up will claim back its $1,000 entrance fee.
“I know this year's Calm Air Cup is going to be a top-notch, high-quality hockey tournament, which will be enjoyed by fans and players alike," said Uppahuak. “The community is looking forward to the first puck being dropped to begin the tournament.”
