Medals Won! Records Broken!
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THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE ARCTIC WINTER GAMES MARCH 21, 2018 Medals won! Records broken! Iglu melts away to memory Yamal gets helping hand from a host town ULU COUNT Team Gold Silver Bronze Total Alaska 12 9 10 31 Alberta N. 9 3 11 23 Greenland 3 5 4 12 NT 9 15 14 38 Nunavik 3 4 1 8 Nunavut 4 3 4 11 Sapmi 2 2 3 7 Yamal 16 17 8 41 Yukon 14 14 17 45 Cody Punter/NNSL photo Nunavut's Drew Bell reaches out to graze the sealskin ball during a record-setting attempt in the one-arm reach in Fort Smith on Monday night. 2 ULU NEWS, Wednesday, March 21, 2018 ULU NEWS, Wednesday, March 21, 2018 3 Nunavut athlete breaks one-hand reach record Cody Punter/NNSL photo Nunavut's Drew Bell reaches out to graze the sealskin ball during a record-setting attempt in the one-arm reach in Fort Smith on Monday night. Bell's tally of 5 feet, 7 inches surpassed the previ- ous record by an inch. Drew Bell establishes new mark at 5 feet, 7 inches by Cody Punter at 5 foot, 7 inches, Bell Northern News Services propped himself up on one Nunavut's Drew Bell set hand and reached out to bare- a new record in the one-arm ly graze the bottom of the reach in front of a packed sealskin ball before returning house at the Fort Smith to balance himself on two recreation cen- hands without tre on Monday his feet touch- night. ing the ground "I don't think "I don't think to ensure his it's really set in attempt would yet," said Bell it's really set count. right after win- At least one ning. "There's in yet." of the judges just a lot of Drew Bell saw him touch emotions going the ball, but through my uncertainty mind right now. from the other I didn't come three officials with an expectation to do led them to confer in the that so it's almost surprising." middle of the gym. After a The record setting reach few tense moments they con- wasn't without controversy. On his third and final attempt Please see page 7 4 ULU NEWS, Wednesday, March 21, 2018 Hoops a-plenty in Fort Smith Paul Bannister/NNSL photo Team NT players bask in victory after beating Nunavut on Monday in Fort Smith. They are, front row, from left, Hayley Tait, Mia MacInnis, Mali Straker and Lillian Casaway. Back row, from left, Naomi Yukon, Meadow Munroe, Janet Enge, Sierra Nesbitt, Emma Willoughby, Anabel Flamand and coach Shaun Doherty. Northern News Services Basketball at the 2018 BASKETBALL Arctic Winter Games is well underway in Fort Smith. The boys and girls divi- Feature sions saw their first action on Monday. Here's a glimpse of by Paul Bannister the action on the hard court. ULU NEWS, Wednesday, March 21, 2018 5 Paul Bannister/NNSL photo Nunavut's Linda Howard brings the ball down court during action in girls basketball against the NWT Monday. Hayley Tait of Team NT is surrounded by players from Nunavut but still manages to get off a pass during girls basketball action. Paul Bannister/NNSL photo Paul Bannister/NNSL photo Janet Enge of Team NT drives for the hoop during their victory over Nunavut on Monday. Paul Bannister/NNSL photo Alaska's Luke Sherman shoots for the net in the first half against Team NT. 6 ULU NEWS, Wednesday, March 21, 2018 Nunavut figure skaters get boost from other teams Competing delegations each lend a competitor to help short-handed opponents by Cody Punter ly nice to see. I think there Northern News Services was even a few tears." The spirit of sportsman- When Nunavut coach Vic- ship that embodies the Arctic toria Hann returned from the Winter Games will be on full meeting to tell the girls the display Thursday as six dele- news they were ecstatic. gations compete under one "They were jumping and flag. screaming," she said. "They're On their flight to the Arctic super excited." Winter Games from Iqaluit, Nunavut's Penelope Arm- Nunavut's three figure skaters strong, who is participating were lamenting the fact that in her first Games, said she is they would be unable to com- nervous about competing with pete in the team event because unfamiliar faces but that she it requires eight members to was looking forward to the perform separate elements. experience. Their fortunes changed "I was really happy and at the first coach's meeting really thankful," said Arm- ahead of the Games, when it strong. was decided that one skater Nunavut's figure skating from each the five other teams team is relatively new. The would perform alongside the territory didn't have a team Nunavut athletes. until Hann was brought on to Cheryl Jobson, coach for start a skating club in Iqaluit Team Alberta North, said the eight years ago. decision was made unani- The team first competed in mously without any hesita- the Arctic Winter Games in tion. Alaska six years ago but they "This is a world-class didn't send anyone to Nuuk, event. Everybody is work- Greenland in 2016. ing very hard to get here and "Back in Alaska we only Cody Punter/NNSL photo deserves a chance to partici- had two skaters but now we It looked like Nunavut's figure skaters would be unable to compete in Thursday's team event until each of pate," she said. "Truly every- have three, so we're growing," the five other delegations offered an athlete to complete the eight-person roster. From left, Victoria Hann, one was on board. It was real- said Hann. Talia Armstrong, Penelope Armstrong and Cassidy Devereaux. ULU NEWS, Wednesday, March 21, 2018 7 Rarely hit such height before Continued from page 3 cluded that the attempt was good. "There was no doubt in my in mind but the judges have to do their due diligence," said Bell. "To be honest if they had said no, I would have accepted that. It happens challenging sports and performances that require focus and discipline. I would like to recognize the every Games. Something doesn't go the way you think it will and you just need to move on the next games and keep that to the countless volunteers, coaches, and parents for their unwavering support of our positive energy." After set- ting the rec- ord, Bell was "If they had spurred on by the crowd to said no, I go one inch higher but would have he packed it accepted in after two attempts. that." Bell said the one-hand Drew Bell reach has been part of his regular training routine for years but he has rarely been able to reach 5 foot, 7 Fort Smith has a diverse cultural and arts community, as well as a number of unique shops and inches. restaurants for you to enjoy. "I've probably done thousands of these and I can count on one hand how many times I've reached that high," he said. I would like to extend my best wishes for a successful and enjoyable event and I wish all those "I was kind of surprised it happened with one of my three attempts here, so I'm pretty excited about that." Bell's record spelled heartbreak for previous record holder Matt Jacobson. Sincerely, The Northwest Territories-born Jacob- son, representing the Yukon at his third Mayor Lynn Napier-Buckley Games, finished with a silver medal while Akpak Duval from Nunavut took the Town of Fort Smith bronze. 8 ULU NEWS, Wednesday, March 21, 2018 All's well that goes well General manager of 2018 Arctic Winter Games satisfied at midway point of Games by James McCarthy with the sports getting an unexpected escort from big help as the Games roll on. their preparation. "It's all about the process Northern News Services underway. the RCMP along part of the Shafter breathed a big sigh "Patrick Roberge Produc- now," he said. The 2018 edition of the "There were lots of com- highway, which wasn't part of relief following the open- tions helped out with the "We're looking to see if Arctic Winter Games are ments about the bus trips of the original plan, said ing ceremony, which had no show and their help with the what we've put in place is about to cross the midway back and forth between Fort Shafer. major hiccups. set-up was amazing." going to work and then test- point and the general man- Smith from those folks. It's "They were out making "Considering we were ing it to see if we have to ager of the event is happy just going really well right sure they got out of town OK coming into a brand new Looking forward adapt or adjust. with how things have tran- now." and rode with them for a por- building, I'm happy," he said. At this point, the primary "It's more adjustment than spired so far. Plenty of pizza along the tion of the way," he said of the "There was that added job for Shafer and his crew is anything else based on the "Everything is going way was also a bonus, he Mounties. element to the whole thing making sure any bumps are feedback we've received to smoothly," Todd Shafer said. added. Outside of the unsched- but the committee we flattened in a swift manner date and making those adjust- "There's lots of excite- One thing those heading uled escort, Shafer said had working on the open- without events being affect- ments based on the capacity ment in both communities back to Fort Smith got was RCMP officers have been a ing did a fantastic job with ed.