The headline has been used so often, it’s probably permanently on the sports desk’s cut-and-paste clipboard at NNSL.
Yellowknife Teams Clean Up at [insert NWT sporting event here].
For most today, it’s accepted as an inevitability: Yellowknife teams take home the vast majority of hardware at territory-wide sports competitions, to the point where a single community team managing a top-two finish at any of the NWT’s “big three” school team sports competitions (Spike It, Cager, and Super Soccer) is worthy of a headlining sports story in News North. In fact, it’s become so commonplace that any potential issue is glossed over, and each time, the result is discarded as an inevitability. Frequently, the same excuses pop up, the old tried-and-true standbys:
They have more kids, so they have a better chance to win.
All the good coaches are in Yellowknife.
These things, to a point, may be true (it’s impossible to argue about Yellowknife having a larger pool of players to choose from). However, these things have been true for decades, and yet, the discrepancy between Yellowknife athletes and those from the communities gets larger and larger each year.
So, with all this information in hand, the question is simple: if the old qualifiers haven’t changed, what has?
The answer is shockingly simple, yet easy to miss: The Arctic Winter Games.
Who would have thought?
If you’re not a reader from the North, the Arctic Winter Games is a bi-annual multisport competition, in the same vein as the Canada or Olympic Winter Games. The event hosts athletes from all 3 territories in Canada, plus Alberta, Alaska, Greenland, Russia, and Scandinavia in a variety of sports including hockey, volleyball, basketball, soccer, snowboarding, snowshoeing, and traditional Dene and Inuit games. Up until the early 1990s, the Arctic Winter Games hosted both junior and senior competitions simultaneously, until the senior games were dropped (most likely due to a lack of resources, but I don’t know that for sure).
In a roundabout way, this seems like it would in fact be a boost to junior sports across the NWT. Sport North, the Northwest Territories’ territorial sport body, has money freed up to spend on junior sports that it used to spend on senior activities, and the Games themselves, with a dearth of athletes, are able to offer junior competitions in more sports and age categories than before. On the surface, this change seems to be encouraging junior sport in Northern communities, giving more kids something to play for every two years.
However, no matter how much interest there is from the youth, there has to be somebody willing to run the program. And this is where the removal of senior sports from the AWG becomes a huge oversight.
Prior to the removal of senior sports from the Arctic Winter Games, teams from across the Northwest Territories would have a territorial tournament every two years to determine which community gets to send a senior team for each sport. Transportation and accommodation to the tournaments, usually hosted in Yellowknife based on available facilities, was provided or at least subsidized by Sport North, and so participation from a large amount of NWT communities was a regular occurrence. Teams from even the smallest communities would prepare for the chance to be crowned NWT champion (and get a free trip to Yellowknife, to boot) and represent the territory at the Arctic Winter Games.
When senior sports at the Games were removed, though, so were senior territorials. Without an event for the territorial champion to attend, there was no reason to crown one, and so the funded weekend tournaments became a thing of the past. On first glance, one may expect the removal of an event like this to have a small effect on interest and participation among senior athletes; after all, it’s just a weekend every two years. However, in the “what’s in it for me” culture present in many NWT communities, where “volunteers” need to be paid to cook hot dogs at a community barbecue, or require per diems to speak to a local panel about issues which affect them directly, it had a huge impact. Participation dwindled – in some cases, local sports leagues disappeared.
Where this affects young athletes, then, is through coaching and supervision – you can’t have youth sports programs without people willing to run them, and without a base of community members actively engaging in sports, willing and available coaches dried up in many communities. Today, it is very rare that more than a couple of high calibre athletes are present in a community at a time, unless a police officer or teacher (such as the fantastic Neil Barry of Tulita or Mike Botermans of Behchoko) moves to town who is passionate about sport and willing to teach and supervise youth. There is simply no opportunity for even willing young athletes to play and learn the game, any game, at a high level, and in team sports like basketball and volleyball, where positioning, learning to play a system, and proper form is crucial at the developing stages, it creates a hurdle that none but the most naturally gifted can leap. It’s no wonder that out of the last three junior men’s basketball teams to attend the Arctic Winter Games, 23 out of the 30 members of Team NWT were from Yellowknife, and out of the other seven, two were from Barry’s basketball program in Tulita (follow Neil Barry on Twitter!), one learned to play the game in Saskatchewan, and one was attending high school in Yellowknife.
And that, my friends, is why the Arctic Winter Games is responsible for the pool of high calibre teams and athletes from NWT communities (not Yellowknife, where the high population base means that coaches are plentiful) continuing to dry up. To summarize (in handy flow chart form):
Remove Senior Territorials > Dwindling interest among adults > No coaches > Little opportunity for youth to play >Fewer top athletes
It’s worth noting here that it’s very unlikely the Arctic Winter Games committee which made the decision to cut senior sports from the Games was aware that it would have this effect on the NWT. However, whether expected or not, it is clear that this decision had an incredibly adverse reaction, one that continues to resonate in NWT sports today.
So, next time you read News North and see the old standard “Yellowknife teams clean up at ________”, put your fist in the sky and yell “DAMN YOU, AWG!” Shatner style. Because now you know – it’s not luck and it’s not population – it’s coaching. Or a lack of it, I guess.
KHAN!!!
Agree? Disagree? Have something to say about NWT sports? Let me know in the comments section!
Until next time,
Garrett
*Note: This piece represents the opinions of Garrett Hinchey, and the opinions only. I did not go into serious fact-checking detail on the stuff I wrote, and many things could certainly be wrong. So take it with a grain of salt.
*Note 2: I am by no means insinuating that sport is dead in all communities – just that it’s heading that way in lots of them. There are most certainly exceptions to the rule.
A Short Thank You
Hey everyone,
First and foremost, I’d like to thank all of you for the response on the letter to John – it’s been absolutely overwhelming. Already over 2,000 views, and 36 comments and still climbing, not to mention the multitude of e-mails, private messages, and in-person responses I’ve received over the past week. It’s truly touching to know that the letter, and the stories that followed were able to help so many through such a difficult time, and you all made it happen. So thank you all so much.
That being said, please keep the stories and comments coming. I’ve spoken with members of John’s family who have told me that it is helping them through this period – so let’s give them all the help we can! I know that they, along with myself and others, will appreciate it immensely.
That being said, after John’s service on Monday, it is time for this blog to begin to move on. Thursday, I will have my first new post since the letter to John. It will be on completely different subject matter, and will, in turn, displace John’s letter from the top of my homepage. For those of you who are new to the blogging medium, do not fear – this does not mean the letter has disappeared. It can still be viewed and commented on at the following links, which I will re-post to my facebook wall as well.
Long link: http://garretthinchey.com/2010/07/26/an-open-letter-to-john-tumchewics/
Short link: http://tiny.cc/johnnyt
As well, if you are constantly checking back to view newly posted comments, you can subscribe to the comments feed at: http://garretthinchey.com/2010/07/26/an-open-letter-to-john-tumchewics/feed/
Again, thank you all so much. This last week has been a trying time for many, and I can assure you that I, and many many others, truly appreciate all the kind words and stories that have been posted on this blog. It’s truly touching to see a community come together in times of tragedy, and Yellowknife, as well as all the people John has touched across the country, have delivered in spades.
Until next time,
G.
An Open Letter to John Tumchewics
Sometimes it makes me sad, though… Andy being gone. I have to remind myself that some birds aren’t meant to be caged. Their feathers are just too bright. And when they fly away, the part of you that knows it was a sin to lock them up DOES rejoice. But still, the place you live in is that much more drab and empty that they’re gone.
I guess I just miss my friend.
- Red Redding, “The Shawshank Redemption”
Hey, John.
I’m sorry to be writing this here, but I really don’t know where else to go with it. Hopefully you have a computer or something up there and can read this somehow. I just have some things I have to say to you, dude.
It’s been crazy here since you left us. The whole place is just up in arms – I don’t think anyone really knows what to do. I’m sure you know this, but so many people here cared for you so much, and now everyone’s just looking for some direction. Luckily, there are a lot of us, and that makes it a bit easier. What sucks is that normally, when something like this happens, we’d all look to you to provide that happy spark, a dumb joke and a huge smile, and everyone would forget about whatever it was that was bothering them for at least a little while. It almost went unsaid that you’d be there when we needed a pick-me-up, and right now, we all need one more than ever.
I hope you know that, man. That’s how you’ll always be remembered. The happiest, most easy going guy I think almost any of us would say they’ve ever had the pleasure to meet, and somebody who just lived life to the fullest every single second of every single day. You’re an inspiration to all of us, a great person and an even better friend. There’ll only ever be one Jonny T.
It’s crazy to think how many memories I have about you in the few short years since we became friends. Pulling the grad guys party out of our asses at the 11th hour, remember that? A long chain of text messages, a few packs of smokies at Extra Foods and it was on. Probably the best night of grad week too. Or skipping the last day of English class to go jump off the bridge in May, it was freakin freezing. Nobody ever said we were the sharpest tools in the shed, but at least we had balls.
And then, everyone left for school, except you and me. “Best friends by default,” I think that was what we called it, and even though we didn’t hang out nearly as much as we should have that year, it was always good to know there was a friendly face and a willing buddy whenever I needed him, just a Fox ride away. Remember that time we got noodle house to go and scarfed it down in the theatre parking lot so we didn’t miss the start of Drillbit Taylor? Again, not the smartest move we ever made, but you can’t say that we weren’t committed. Or taking the ferry over to Nanaimo, listening to “Hollywood’s Not America” on repeat. Or just cruising around, shooting the shit on a weeknight, because there was nothing better to do. It may seem mundane and silly, man, but that’s stuff that really stuck with me. I hope you know that it did.
But now you’re gone, dude. I don’t know if it’s really sunk in yet, and I don’t know if it ever will. I just keep expecting to wake up to a ridiculous text about your past night’s escapades, or a big “PSYCHE” on your facebook wall, or something. You always just seemed invincible to me man, I know it’s corny to say this, but kind of like a big brother. I really did look up to you, and I hope you know how much you have and will continue to influence my life (and everyone else’s, too).
There are other people down here who are hurting more than me too, man. I’m sure you could guess who they all are. But what I hope you know is how much everyone (and I mean everyone) misses you, even the people you would never guess in a million years. You were such a huge part of Yellowknife, dude, and even though we all want you back, and feel cheated that you’ve been taken from us so early, everyone’s happy they got the chance to know you. You just made impressions on so many people.
You might call me out on this someday, when I join you up there, but I’ll admit I cried when I heard the news. I cried a lot, but tried not to do it more than I had to, because I know that you, more than anyone, would not want to let something like this get everyone down. So, instead of mourning the fact that you’re gone, I’ll just try to be happy that I was lucky enough to cross paths with you while you were here, and think about all the good times we got to have. I think that’s the first thing I managed to say when I heard the news, actually: that I have a ton of memories of you, all of them good ones.
One of my favourites was when I was just seven years old. I was in pre-immersion at JH Sissons, and I showed up to the school on the wrong day. With no way to contact my parents, I was despondent – stuck all the way across town for the afternoon was such a scary proposition for a seven year old. Not knowing anybody there or having any idea what to do, I went out to the playground, sat down on a rock and started to cry. But then, there you were:
“You can come hang out with me today”
I didn’t even know who you were, but we spent the whole afternoon together. You took me to all your classes, hung out with me at recess, and never once made me feel like I was out of place, and when I left I didn’t even know your name. I think we both figured it out when we were in grade 12, remember?
I just hope you know that that’s how I’ll remember you. You were always there when I needed you, even when I didn’t know I did.
On Saturday night, I had a barbecue at my house, to try and get everyone together and cheer them up. At one point, we went outside and drank a bottle of Baby Duck in your honour. After we each took a sip, I poured the rest out for you, and while I was, I looked up in the sky – it was one of those cloudy, purple Yellowknife nights. Through the clouds, there was one bright spot where the sun was holding on, shaped like a sideways crescent moon, or a certain somebody’s trademark smile. I hope it was you man. And if it was, then you already know this, but I’ll make sure I say it again.
I love you. And I’ll never forget you.
Rest in peace, man. Have a beer up in heaven for me.
I miss you.
G.
Jonny T: Uncut
When discussing potential ideas for this blog, the idea of an interview segment came up repeatedly. Numerous names were tossed around as potential interview subjects (and hopefully you’ll get to see some of those at a later date). However, when it came to premiering this new segment, as well as ending the two week absence from my blog, there was only one person that came to mind: Jonny T.
Who would've thought this kid would grow up to be JT?
A living legend, Jonny T (his full name will not be used here for employability reasons, but you know who I’m talking about anyways) made an indelible mark on Yellowknife during his high school career, and for a few years afterward, before he finally got himself together and headed off to school. Now graduated for the second time, John shares some of his thoughts with garretthinchey.com in the first edition of “The Interview,” which we’re titling “Jonny T: Uncut.”
*Disclaimer: The views of Jonny T are purely for entertainment purposes, and do not reflect the views of garretthinchey.com. As well, there will be some mature language and discussion. Read on at your own peril.*
*Note: This conversation took place over Facebook over the course of a month or so. My questions are in regular font and red colour, John’s answers are in italics. Enjoy!
For those readers out there who don’t know who you are, would you mind introducing yourself? Maybe providing a little background?
I’m pretty sure both of your readers know who I am, Garrett. But to humour you… My name is John. I like to rock hard. My background is a large window, with grass on the outside. There are a few birds.
You’ve lived in Yellowknife your entire life, recently leaving to attend school. Can you share some of your best memories of Yellowknife with us?
You are very right Garrett, affirmative. I did live in Yellowknife for quite some time. There are so many memories….so little time but I will try:
1. The plethora of drunken nights and encounters: waking up In my bed in only a parka, vomiting blue in the raven bathroom, listen man, I have to do work I’ll send more at a later date
*Three Days Later*
I’ve been doing some intense soul-searching over the past few days and have come up with a few more memorable memories- this is a lot harder than I thought, wow.
- Shariff Adam vs. Karlee Bell in grade 8, an epic match-up if there ever was one. Believe me. I can picture it like it was yesterday.
- Harji Sidhu and I cruising around as I desperately tried to sober up enough to go home in Grade 12… we had some intense conversations…I think, to this day “Johnji” is a force to be reckoned with.
- The taste of Bruno’s pizza, at 3am, on the way down or on the way back up, all across Canada I have never had better.
- Running through the school with water guns and balloons on the last day of grade 12… the only two water balloons that actually exploded were direct hits to the tall kid with the fish lips a year below us and to the infamous snap-case Sean Ross who was making out with his girlfriend. He returned fire by hurling large rocks and racially charged insults.
- CKLB radio CJCD (minus the J-Bear, pretty sure you said “good memories”)
- Sasko Taskov.
- Tin Can Hill parties, especially the guys party that we pulled out of our asses (figuratively speaking) it definitely exceeded all expectations
- Mr. Hernando’s complete lack of control over his music class, s*** happened. I was the only asshole that had to play trumpet, everyone else just rocked out in the lunch room for the afternoon.
- C.T.R. The nickname says it all.
- The fact I’ve poured beer on Amanda Lillis and she has blamed someone else both times…until now.
- Steven Black drawing a “phallic symbol” on the back of Sasko’s shirt…in pen. Remember the time he sprayed Sasko in the face with the board cleaner? Priceless.
- Mr. Lacey’s brutally s****y English class and his explanation of the welsh word “cwm” No offense if you read this Steve, the class was a circle jerk.
Aside from that, there are countless others that I can’t think of at the moment or are waaay too inappropriate or just plain embarrassing to me and/or others: like the time I pissed off Meika Stewart’s deck onto a few nameless individuals…
There goes my political career.
You’ve had a pretty storied academic career; what does it mean to you to be among the first of the grad ’07s to be graduated from post secondary? Are you going to miss school?
Mr. Hinchey, it seems like a lifetime ago that we were forced to “Battlestations” in Mr. Willoughby’s Social Studies 30 class. That class was probably the epitome of foolishness- until the exam… when we rocked the piss out of it. Someday Disney will make a movie out of our story.
I often think graduating on time was one of my bigger mistakes – I should’ve done a few “victory laps” of grade 12….if I went back with what I know now…well on second thought, I’d like to stay out of prison so I’ll just stick to a creep through the bushes beside memory lane.
I will miss school though, not so much my “false start” at Camosun in Victoria… what a s*** show… its amazing how little homework you get in business if you don’t go to class. The best thing about going to Business class was dropping out, and all the good times I had with friends while there, and getting into a fight with multiple homeless men and their sleeping dog… also the one night in Nanaimo. Seriously though, after my first day in business I thought I’d spent my day napping in a room full of Zyklon B.
As for this year (that’s right b****, I took a one year course) it has been a slice and I will definitely miss being in an institution of higher learning – I hope one of you get the joke, not that many of your readers have kept reading this far….
F*** I can’t even remember the question. I guess I gotta grow up now that I’m starting a career- I said the same thing after high school and I didn’t at all…mind you I didn’t get any younger soo…Baby steps?
How do I feel to be in the first wave of 07′s to graduate? I just ate wings that are disagreeing with my stomach slightly. In the larger picture nobody is more surprised than myself…Except Yvonne Careen, my grade 6 teacher, I really don’t think she had much hope for me. I guess I party with a lot of old people as well now.
Wait a mouse just crawled out of my wall, or is it Luke Balint? Nope, it’s a mouse. I’ll be back.
If you could be an animal, what kind, and why?
When I was about seven I would’ve said a dog (concidentally, that’s the last time I was asked this question). Obviously my horizons have broadened slightly since then and I would have to go with…
Harji Sidhu’s moustache. Why? Clearly there are massive disadvantages to this position; let me list them.
- The s*** that spews forth from his lips might occasionally get stuck to me
- The blistering heat of the copious amounts of curry he consumes could singe my fur.
- I would find out where those lips have been.
And on the plus side..
- I would frame an excellent set of white teeth
- I could link with his goatee and silence his lips…it would be golden
- I would be able to prove a moustache could have a higher IQ than it’s host.
I you could punch one person on earth in the stomach, without repercussions, who would it be, and why?
If I could punch someone in the stomach…no matter who… It’s a tough call. Ellen Degenerates is an option. The black guy in UFC (Rashad Evans) irritates me as well. Vince from Slap Chop and Keanu Reeves. Mother Theresa, nobody can be that perfect. Scott Hartnell, Chris Pronger and the rest of the Flyers, for obvious reasons. Most drivers in Ontario except for the girls I mooned on the 401- they’ve had their punishment.
If you could relive one year of your life, which one would it be? And why?
I think the question should be can you re-do two years? I would say no but I’d like to review it…you know? I’m actually way toon drunk yonanswer *Two Weeks Later*
One year to re-do…probably my birth year, 1989 – everything was so new and exciting. It was also the last year of the ’80′s… many changes were about to take place… Communist China busted a move on thousands of unarmed protesters in Tiananmen Square…with tanks. My main man Gorbachev became President of the Soviet Union and The USA invaded Panama, nobody noticed. Rainman won best picture, San Francisco won the Super Bowl and Calgary won the Stanley Cup.
I also got laid for the first time and drank my first beer.
Finally, before we wrap things up: any thoughts on the World Cup? Predictions? (Note: This question was asked during the World Cup)
My prediction for the cup would have to be North Korea. Enough said.
Thanks for this, bud. Good luck with wherever your journeys may take you.
So that about wraps it up for this segment of “The Interview!” Hope you enjoyed it. Have a question for John? Want to tell him to get his butt back to Yellowknife? Use the comments section!
Interviewer and interviewee, at the site of their greatest triumph.
Cutten’s Corner: Summertime
Garretthinchey.com is proud to present the latest edition of “Cutten’s Corner,” featuring guest blogger Joe Cutten:
Let’s talk about summer.
In my opinion, there is nothing better than a hot summer day: a light breeze, just enough to keep the mosquitoes away, and the sun high in the sky, blazing down. Not a cloud in the sky, wearing shorts (shirts are optional), with a cold lemonade and crazy straw just for fun.
Nothing beats it. Long summer days are the shit.
In honour of the coming of summer, then, I present to you my five favourite things of Yellowknife’s summer season (in no particular order):
Outdoor Concerts / Music Festivals
In Yellowknife, even though we really only get one weekend with an outdoor show, we make the most of it; Folk on the Rocks is probably the most fun weekend of the summer. The weather is usually warm and sunny which is perfect to sit in the beer gardens or on a blanket in front of the main stage. It is always surprising how much talent is provided by local NWT musicians, and the bands that come from other parts of Canada are always excited and bring a lot of energy. If I could describe the atmosphere of the weekend in one word, it would be “ecstatic”. With tons of dancing and singing, along with an annual appearance from the city’s favourite rapper (you know who it is), the weekend is one that shouldn’t be missed by any Yellowknifer.
Folk on the Rocks= Epic Weekend.
If I had to choose a weekend for tourists to visit Yellowknife it would be Folk on the Rocks. There is not a doubt in my mind they would leave impressed. Last year Sam Roberts, who was headlining, put on a show to be remembered, and its these energetic, upbeat performances by well-known headliners that keep audiences coming back year after year.
Another great thing about the festival is the location. The Folk on the Rocks site is perfect on a hot day, as Long Lake is located directly behind the main stage. Whether off of a boat beforehand, or as a quick dip right before the headliner, swimming is a rockin’ addition to the day’s activities.
So go for the music, stay because of the atmosphere, and come back because of the friends. For everyone from face-painted youngsters and intoxicated teens to adults of all ages, Folk on the Rocks is always one of the most memorable weekends of the summer.
Camping
I’ll say it: I love camping. It’s always fun to pack all your gear into a canoe and push off for a night of fun in the sun. Canoeing out to an island and claiming it for the weekend is always an adventure. There are usually new things to find, even if you’ve been in the exact same spot before, and to be honest, it gives me a sense of “roughing it,” even though we’re really far from it (we’re usually so close to town we can hear the ice cream truck from our island).
There’s just something about building a fire and cooking your food on the end of a stick that can’t be replicated in a big city. The best part about camping in YK is the fact that the sun is up for most of the night, which usually leads to a non-stop party. With the right friends, it’s a great time. I love everything about it, from setting up tents to late night swimming, and because of those and countless other reasons, suffice to say I cannot wait to get out camping this year. With in-town activities taking up most of the summer weekends, it’s always nice to have a weekend where there is nothing to do but enjoy being out on the lake, without a care in the world.
Just like garretthinchey.com, Garrett takes all the credit while Joe does the work.
Just like garretthinchey.com, Garrett takes all the credit while Joe does the work.
Sports
Although winter sports are fun to watch, there’s no time like the summer to get outside and start playing yourself.
Basketball, football, stick ball, blue balls, rec halls? “You’re going to love my nuts.”
There’s nothing like getting a group of friends together and playing some outdoor recreational sports. It’s fun to feel the grass under your cleats or the sand between your toes and just live in the moment. My personal favourite: basketball. It always brings me back to when I first started playing the sport outside of schools and against anyone that would play. On nice new courts like the ones put up in Yellowknife at Mildred Hall School, it’s one of my favourite ways to spend a summer evening. Although it often gets competitive, in the end, the best part of the experience is just going out to have a good time. Whether on the beach, a field or on the court it’s never a bad time to be with a group of friends and just toss a ball around.
Fishing
When I was growing up I loved being around the water, and that’s something that hasn’t changed to this day. Although this is a summer sport (Garrett’s note: no, it’s not), I figured it deserves its own spot on the list. Whether it’s a river, lake, pool or ocean I love to be out on it with a fishing rod.
Luckily for me, then, Yellowknife has some amazing fishing. With a boat launch to Great Slave Lake easy to access from inside the city, it couldn’t get much easier for anglers-to-be to head out. Numerous spots on one of the largest lakes in Canada (everyone has their own) just a short boat ride away make for a great weekend activity.
As well, some of the world’s best and most picturesque fishing lies just beyond the city of Yellowknife. Although I’ve only been once, believe me when I say that the East Arm of Great Slave Lake is as beautiful as it is a good spot to fish. We Yellowknifers are truly lucky to have access to so many great fishing locations so close to the place we call home.
As the saying goes, you can give a man a fish and feed him for a day, or you can teach a man to fish and he’ll sit in a boat and drink beer all day.
Cliff/Bridge jumping
There has always been something about the thought of flying that has exhilarated me. Unfortunately, the only flying that I do is while sitting in a small seat being served miniature bags of snack mix. Luckily, when the lakes and rivers warm up enough to be swimmable, jumping off cliffs and bridges is the closest I can come to flying without being on a plane (although if you want to be a stickler, I guess it might be considered falling). My first bridge jump of the year (last night) was glorious. The river really wasn’t warm (Garrett’s note: I can attest to this. It was FREEZING) but it was good to know that the rest of summer season will be filled with nights of driving out to all the familiar spots around town, just for the rush of jumping off a high structure. I don’t know if it’s the adrenaline, or maybe just feeling cool for looking brave, but I always love it. It’s so much fun to hurl yourself from the edge and feel your speed pick up until you finally crash into the water below. The sensation of water rushing by as you slowly stop is incredible. Then you make your way to the surface of the water and although it has only been a few seconds, it was filled with emotions: from the initial fear, to being overwhelmed, and eventually joy.
The moral of the story: although I may never actually fly, I can always jump off something high and land in some water below. And that’s not bad either.
With only a list as long as 5, I’ve definitely missed a few activities that make summers in Yellowknife so great. A few honourable mentions which could have definitely made my list: bush parties, BBQing and patios.
I have always considered the summer to be my favourite season. There so much to do outside and it seems there is never enough time to do it all. Let me know what your favourite activities are in the comment section, and have a great weekend!
Over and Out,
J. Cutten
Tune in next time for another "Cutten's Corner."
The Rant: Sir John Franklin Grad
I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately, and with Sir John Franklin’s Graduation ceremony just around the corner (Saturday), I thought it was probably time that I got some things off my chest.
First off, congratulations to the 140+ students graduating this year. You’ve all put in a ton of work, and deserve all the best from this town over the weekend. Enjoy every minute of it.
However (in my opinion), politics and overprotection are starting to ruin what is, for many students, the biggest event in their lives thus far (and, for many, one of the biggest in their lives, period).
Now, before I get into this, please let it be known that this is all my opinion, and no-one else’s. Feel free to agree or disagree (that’s what the comments function is for), and I certainly don’t propose that I have all the answers, or that those who disagree with me are wrong in any way.
This is just how I see things. And how I see things are that a lot of changes have been made to Sir John Franklin High School’s graduation ceremony for the wrong reasons in the last few years.
First, some background. I graduated in 2007 from Sir John Franklin High School as the student council president, and had a large hand in planning many of the “extracurricular” grad activities that took place during the week of the grad ceremony. Needless to say, graduation from Sir John Franklin is something I’ll never forget, and has a very special place in my heart (and always will).
However, now, with my brother and two of my cousins graduating this year, I’ve been privy to a bit more of the planning and discussion than I had been since my own graduation – to that end, I don’t know if some of these changes occurred in 2008 or 2009, or if they all took effect this year. I just noticed them this year.
First, and foremost, is the moving of the graduation ceremony from its traditional place in mid-May to the end of June. This change was presumably made in order to ensure that the “grad list,” or those permitted by the school to participate in the ceremony based on whether or not they’ve met (or are on track to meet) graduation requirements is as accurate as possible, that is, those participating in the ceremony are the ones who will actually be graduating. The change (I would assume) has also been made to help assure that the partying leading up to and the night of the grad ceremony is kept to a minimum, as there is still a diploma exam which takes place on the Monday following grad weekend.
I find both of these arguments very shallow and insignificant: basically, too much time is being spent on the wrong things. First, the “accurate grad list” argument: a graduation ceremony is about the students. That’s it. Not the school’s reputation or anything like that. By moving the grad ceremony later in the year, you exclude those who were on track to graduate and messed up in the last month: either by failing/dropping a class, not getting their community service hours finished, or for whatever other reason.
But let’s rewind for a second – don’t you think that having the grad ceremony in May might have prevented some of these mistakes?
For a lot of students in the Northwest Territories, a high school education is as far as they get. That’s a fact. We have a low percentage of students attending post-secondary education than in many other regions of Canada, and so, for this sizable group of students, a high school grad ceremony is the only academic ceremony they will ever experience in their life. These students (the ones unlikely to further their education) are also the most likely ones to slip up at some point in the last month of school and be taken off the grad list – their marks are likely not as high as students eying college or university.
Seeing as a high school graduation ceremony may be the pinnacle of some students’ academic careers, giving them a graduation ceremony before they enter the “home stretch” could very well inspire them to finish strong and complete their diplomas. It is hard to quantify how important it is to some people to go through all of the excitement that grad brings with those in their year, even if they will not graduate with them on time, and having an earlier ceremony is a simple way to do that. Even if they don’t graduate in the end, who cares? Again, it’s about the students, not the school’s reputation, and to be honest, I don’t think there are too many prudes out there who care if a few students who don’t graduate get to participate in a ceremony. It’s not hurting anyone.
Taking this important incentive away from those students who are “on the bubble” to graduate will most likely lower their chances of completing their education, in my opinion. It will also ensure that some students never get to participate in a ceremony, or are forced to take part in one with the year after theirs. Every student who has made it to grade 12 deserves recognition, even if they don’t end up graduating, and to take the ceremony away from some of them by putting it at the end of June is wrong.
The second argument for the moving of the date is the “party” argument, that is, that students are less likely to party if grad takes place during exams. While I do think that this is true for most: a lot of students have a lot riding on these exams, it is not for all, and it is here that this argument is counterproductive. Assuming that no partying will go on during grad week is ludicrous, ignorant, and naive, regardless of the week. The effects of this partying are tenfold when they occur during the exam period, where many students are doing their best to actually graduate, rather than during a nondescript week in mid-May. By moving grad week to the end of June, you are effectively lowering the grades of many students, something that could easily be avoided. Why make them worry about exams and grad? Do one, than the other. Simple.
The second point I would like to make is this: partying is a huge part of grad. It always has, and it always will be. Having the entire class come together for a week is one of the things that make graduation so special and memorable for many students. Sure, there will be problems; it’s a bunch of underage teens drinking (at least some of them are), but more the most part (at least in my experience) the students are civil and sane. Those who do stupid things during grad week would likely be doing them anyway.
I’m not saying the school should encourage underage partying, far from it. The students have a choice whether or not to consume alcohol, or to attend grad week events at all, and a high school certainly has no place encouraging or promoting events like this. However, by actively taking steps to discourage them, they are inadvertently making them potentially more dangerous and damaging – imagine the hit the school’s reputation would take if one of their students was caught doing something inappropriate during exam week. Or, the much more likely scenario: that students will have far lower grades than usual on final exams because they happened to coincide with grad week. Either of these scenarios is not an ideal one, and are easily prevented: if you know it’s going to happen, why not make it happen when it’s not as big a deal?
The same argument here extends to all those who are adamant defenders of dry grad and use this as another reason behind the ceremony’s movement to late June: dry grad sponsors don’t want to see students drinking during the week and then put money into a “dry grad” event. Again, it doesn’t matter what the sponsors think: whether they want to or not, some students will drink during grad week. That’s just what happens. By making these switches, the school is believing that it has control over something it doesn’t, and needs to come to grip with this, and proceed in making the effects of this as minimal as possible (read: NOT DURING EXAM WEEK).
Another element I found strange regarding grad this year was the omission of the “walk,” that is, when all the students come into the gym one by one, or in pairs, in their formal wear and walk up on stage. I would assume that this was removed for the same reasons there was talk of removing it when I was in grade 12: that some students are embarrassed that they can’t find a grad date, or shy, and do not wish to participate.
Unfortunately for those students, though, such is life. There are many things during grad week that some people would rather not participate in.
The solution?
They don’t participate.
Removing the walk because some students don’t wish to do it is like removing grad pumpkin carving because a few students are allergic to pumpkins, or not letting the students use the pool at dry grad because someone is embarrassed to be seen in a bathing suit. There are choices for a reason, and in this case, the school erred on the side of overprotection (something that is very prevalent in our society these days, but that’s a rant for another time).
The truth of the matter is that there are a sizeable amount of students who, given the choice, would do the “walk.” Why take that choice away from them? Using a more direct example, the school never before forced students who didn’t want to participate in the “walk” to participate, and the same logic holds true here. If it’s not that important to you/you don’t want to do it for whatever reason, then don’t. Simple.
As a high school student, I loved grad. The week leading up to the event, and the event itself, were major points in my life, and getting the chance to come together with the hundred-odd people in my grad class was an experience that was once-in-a-lifetime. I’ve spoken with many other members of my class who feel the same way. I just hope that the school (or the school board, or whoever makes these decisions) can remember that that once-in-a-lifetime feeling is what the event is all about.
It’s about the students. And that’s it.
Once again, congrats to the Sir John Franklin (and for that matter, the St. Pat’s) graduates. Enjoy every minute of it.
*Disclaimer: I apologize if I’ve screwed up any of the “facts” I have here. I don’t know all of the reasons behind the changes made to grad, nor do I pretend to: this is largely based on speculation. Please treat it as such.
As well, I apologize if I sound redundant/dumb making points, it is a rant, after all. If you have a comment, please post it below!
What I’ve Learned from Wikipedia
Prepare for a mini Wikipedia extravaganza.
I don’t know about you, but one website that consumes a lot of my free time is Wikipedia. Wikipedia is a user-driven encyclopaedia which is updated by readers, meaning that a lot of information is either a) random or b) culturally relevant (both things that a traditional encyclopaedia is not). Because of this, Wikipedia is host to a large quantity both random and interesting facts, as well as occasionally poor grammar, making for quite an entertaining read at times. The following is a short list of a few of my better finds on the site; if you’ve got any to add, post them in the comments section! Enjoy!
- A script was written for a sequel to the film “Forrest Gump” in 2001. The idea was originally scrapped, but was re-opened by Paramount for another look in 2007.
- Speaking of “Forrest Gump”, both Ice Cube and Dave Chappelle were offered the role of Bubba Blue, and both turned it down. It states that Chappelle “regrets not taking the role.” You think?
- A young echidna is called a puggle.
- Also on the topic of echidnas, ever wondered about the male echidna’s reproductive system? You should have (quoted directly from Wikipedia):
“Male echidnas have a four-headed penis. During mating, the heads on one side “shut down” and do not grow in size; the other two are used to release semen into the female’s two-branched reproductive tract. The heads used are swapped each time the mammal copulates.” Sounds uncomfortable to me.
- The world record for ferret legging, a endurance sport in which contestants see how long they can last with two live ferrets inside their pants, is 5 hours and 30 minutes.
- Steven Seagal has his own brand of energy drink: “Steven Seagal’s Lightning Bolt.” It currently comes in two flavours: “Cherry Charge,” and “Asian Experience.” Feel free to speculate on what that tastes like.
Nothing gets me pumped like Steven Seagal's Lightning Bolt.
- Some of the Yellowknifers with Wikipedia pages include: Godson, Gordon Van Tighem, Dustin Milligan, Kevin Koe, Alex Debogorski, and Max Ward. None for Michael Gilday yet, although I’m sure there’s one coming.
- The Gold Range Bar in Yellowknife has its own Wikipedia page as well. The photo of the bar has both a police car and ambulance visibly parked in front of it. A surprisingly accurate depiction for the internet.
- The characters of the “Monopoly” board game’s names:
The old man with the top hat is “Rich Uncle Pennybags.” You probably knew that, but did you know his first name was Milburn?
The guy in jail is named “Jake the Jailbird,” and the cop on the “Go to Jail” space is “Officer Edgar Mallory.”
- In 2004, a live-action Pac Man movie was announced. To this point, no new news has been reported. Thank god.
- Finally, my own experience with Wikipedia: in 2007, I inserted my name in the credits of the Adam Sandler film “Billy Madison” as Jack (Billy Madison’s fat friend).
Mark Beltzman, the actor who actually plays Jack.
To this day, my name is still there, unchanged. Incredibly, it has also made it onto multiple other websites as well; a quick google search of my name yields “Garrett Hinchey” in the credits of “Billy Madison” on reference.com, bebo.com, Amazon’s Askville, and myproducer.tv. The lesson here: don’t believe everything you read on the internet. The other lesson: editing Wikipedia can yield hilarious results.
Happy Friday! I’ll be back next week.
- Garrett
Flashbacks: The Vancouver Police
‘Afternoon!
First things first: I apologize for the unexplained break from writing – I took a week off, and was out of town for the weekend. That being said, I’m back! Let’s get to today’s entry, which I will classify as a “Flashback,” even though it was from just a few days ago. Enjoy!
This past weekend, I was in Vancouver for the UFC event being held there. As a huge fan of the sport of mixed martial arts, it was very exciting to see my first live event, and I’ll cover it more at length in a future post. However, I will share with you one story. It’s something that I think is an indicator of perhaps quite a serious problem in society, and something that I think carries a message with it (or, it’s just an entertaining story). Either way, enjoy:
After the event, myself and my friends Craig, Joe, and Justin were wandering through downtown Vancouver, looking to hail a cab to take us home (or in this case, back to Justin’s house). We ended up on a corner of Granville street next to a 7/11 store, and stopped to deliberate our next course of action (to call a cab, or to hail a cab, basically). Outside the store was a homeless man sitting in the doorway’s indent – not exactly a rare sight in Vancouver, and not something that any of us took particular notice of.
This, sadly, is a common sight in downtown Vancouver. Our guy was a bit more frisky than this guy, though.
However, while we were standing on the sidewalk, a couple of men walked by (I believe from out of the 7/11, but I am not certain). One of them, for reasons not apparent to us, seemed to irk the homeless man, who rose from his seat and began to accost the man walking. The pair immediately switched direction in order to avoid confrontation, but were followed by the homeless man. There was a bit of a back-and-forth banter between the homeless man and the pair as they walked past us, what exactly was said I don’t remember, however, the man being “beaked” by the homeless guy seemed quite annoyed and upset. The three disappeared around a corner, and we all chalked it up as just another one of those things you see late at night in Vancouver.
Just when we thought it was over, though, the three came back around the corner. The homeless man now had a beer in his hand, and was teetering quite noticeably (he was wearing a long trenchcoat, which is where I’m assuming the beer came from). The two other men picked up their pace, starting to distance themselves from the homeless man, who stumbled into a tree and dropped his beer, and then began to run after them. As he neared, he jumped onto a mailbox, knocking it over.
At this point, the four of us decided that it would most likely be in our best interests to distance ourselves from this confrontation, and so we walked across the street and continued to watch. The homeless man had caught up to the man he was yelling at (the other one had since disappeared) and grabbed him by the shoulder. What we saw next was obscured by a car driving across our line of vision, but over the roof of the car we were able to see the man rise up for an instant and then crumple, unconscious (presumably knocked out from an uppercut, at least that’s what it looked like to us).
The homeless man returned to his post in front of 7/11, now without his trenchcoat. The four of us, shocked, noticed a “ghost” police car and pulled it over, telling the officers what had happened. Immediately, the two officers ran out of the car and began to question the homeless man, while the other man lay unconscious about 30 feet away.
After about a minute, we realized that the police officers didn’t see the unconscious man, and we ran across the road to tell them where he was (he had been out cold for at least a couple minutes at this point). One of the police officers and the four of us went over to him, where he was laid on his back with his leg awkwardly bent beneath him, and his eyes rolled back in his head, completely motionless. The police officer attempted to rouse him by lightly slapping his face and calling to him, but he didn’t budge. I honestly thought he may be dead.
After a couple minutes, though, he began to stir, and a few minutes after that, he was able to sit up with his back on the storefront where he had fallen. The police officer attempted to question him (“how did you get on the ground? Do you know why you’re on the ground?”) but the man was so groggy/possibly concussed that he was unable to recall what had happened, he offered up a very weak “I fell.” It was at this point that Craig noticed the homeless man’s trenchcoat was lying on the still groggy man’s lap; I guess it must have slipped off during the scuffle.
The police officer called for an ambulance, and then talked to us for a bit; as none of us had seen exactly what had happened due to being across the street, we were unable to provide official statements. However, just as he was about to dismiss us, the second police officer, who had been with the homeless man the whole time, came over and tapped the other cop on the shoulder, saying “I’ve got the whole story. Apparently this guy (gesturing to the homeless man) was doing security at 7/11, and this guy (gesturing to the still-slumped over and completely unaware man who had just been knocked out) was stealing sandwiches.” We all laughed, as we thought it was a pretty funny joke – the homeless guy was clearly wasted, as was evident by his slumping into a tree, dropping his beer and knocking over a mailbox. He also didn’t notice that his trenchcoat was missing. However, the whole situation became a whole lot less funny when the other police officer turned to the still-slumped over man on the ground and said to him: “you’re under arrest for theft.” He then told us to leave.
We all walked away, thinking it was part of the joke, as the man on the ground could clearly not understand what the police were saying, he was still barely conscious. We went into a Subway across the road and watched as an ambulance pulled up, followed by another police car. However, the ambulance pulled away without the unconscious man, and the next time that we looked up, all the police cars had left (as had the unconscious man) and the homeless man was still sitting in front of 7/11. As we left Subway, it dawned on all of us that the police officer wasn’t joking when he arrested the unconscious man for theft.
How do we know our police our doing their job?
I guess the point of this story is that police officers have a responsibility to ensure the public’s safety, and a duty to enforce the law. However, a lot of times this responsibility comes into conflict with a person who is either indifferent or lazy, as in this case, and will instead take the path of least resistance (it would definitely be quite difficult to book a homeless man on an assault charge with nobody able to give a statement). I am in no way saying that all cops are like this, or even most of them, but I don’t believe this is an isolated incident, and it’s certainly something to think about: how can we ensure that the police are performing their duties properly? In today’s culture, everyone is searching for a shortcut; a way to make things easier, and it has both improved our quality of life and made us very conducive to taking the easiest road possible.
In some facets of life, even in some occupations, this is acceptable.
When ensuring our safety, it is not.
Suffice it to say that this shook me a little bit, and definitely hit hard (I never would have guessed that the first thing I wrote about coming back from UFC weekend wouldn’t be UFC). Do you have any stories about police looking the other way? Any thoughts? Is there a way to fix this problem? Post below in the comments section!
Cutten’s Corner – Year End Hoedown
Hello readers!
Guest blogger Joe Cutten returns with "Cutten's Corner."
For today’s edition of “Cutten’s Corner,” guest blogger Joe Cutten takes us away from the squash and to the other side of the Racquet Club’s annual Year End Tournament as his alter-ego Rip Roarin’ Randy Randleson. For some of Joe’s previous work, click here.
As well, click here for my Year End Tournament squash breakdown. Enjoy!
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Boooiiiiii Howdie! Today’s topic is about the Year End Tournament held at the Yellowknife Racquet Club. It spans the whole week and there are always barn burnin’, rootin’ tootin’ squash matches to watch. But I won’t be hollerin’ about the squash. Although the reason for the event is the sport, what really makes this week one of the best of the summer is all the fun activities you get to do while sipping your brew of choice.
From karaoke to steak and lobster, workin’ on my farmer tan in the hot tub and all you can eat sushi, the week is one I look forward to every summer.
Let’s get serious for a second: the reason I signed up the first year was the steak and lobster grilled up on Saturday night. You have your choice of either steak or lobster (or my choice: both), and it’s included in your registration fee, holy smokes that’s one good deal. With your choice of warm or cold lobster and the steak barbequed to your preference, Saturday night is always a rip roarin’ good time. There ain’t nothing better than sitting on the deck sippin’ dranks and enjoying lobster with good friends and hearing Al bust jokes about anyone around. What always tickles my fancy, the twenty pound bowls of pertater salad. Get ‘er in ya! If you don’t play squash, make sure to sign up next year for the din din.
Friday night is also one of my favourites. Bustin’ out the karaoke machine and the local “artists” are allowed to sing any song they’d like. With prizes for best singer and best group look for some real potential. In fact, you’re talkin’ to a regular karaoke star! I won best group last year belting out one of my personal favourites: One Last Breath by Creed! Nothing better than a night of singing like a fool, come on down and just let yourself go! Honestly, it’s not often that karaoke is taken seriously and the night is fun for everyone, unless somehow Al gets the mic.
Probably the best gosh darn part of the tournament is the location. The Racquet Club is a pretty gosh darn fine establishment. I’ve been there every day this week even though I’ve only played one match! Big screen TVs flipped to hockey, a licensed bar, deck, saunas, massage bed, a hot tub, and so much more seriously make The Racque Club a darn good place to hang out. Serving up burgers on most nights during the week and beers every night, why would you want to go anywhere else? Good times and good friends in a friendly and comfortable environment. It’s pretty golly gosh darn ol’ fashioned fun. The deck is littered with chairs and tables to hold your beerskis, overlooking the rocky side of a hill, the RC may have the nicest patio in town.
Come on down y’all, get yer tab started. Feel free to grab me a bottle of Canadian too. Anyway though, time to end this here rant for the week, my ol’ lady is callin me by my full name, I must be trouble! See y’all down at the Yellowknife Racquet Club!
Over and Out,
Rip Roarin’ Randy Randleson
Rip Roarin' Randy is dressed in his finest for the Year End.
The Racquet Club Year End Tournament Breakdown
The first week of June brings along with it the most underrated week in Yellowknife sports – The Racquet Club’s Year End squash tournament. The Northwest Territories premier tournament of the year is quickly becoming one of the more talked-about events in Canada, and this year promises to deliver, with well over 100 participants in 13 divisions, nationally ranked visiting pros, the return of karaoke, and the always popular steak-and-lobster dinner on Saturday night. While I could probably spend a full post talking about the week’s extracurricular events (free sushi on Thursday = WIN), the tournament is, at its core, about squash, and newcomers and veterans, hardcores and casual players alike will be contending to win the crown in various divisions. What follows is a breakdown of all the divisions in the tournament (except for the junior divisions), and a little prognostication on my part (though I will stay away from picking the winners outright). Enjoy! And enjoy the week at the Club (tournament draws are available here):
We be squashin'
Ladies D
Historically, ladies D has been more or less a crapshoot when it comes to the Year End – any one of these ladies could potentially win the tournament. I’ll stay away from picking potential winners because I haven’t seen any of these ladies play before, however, it is worth noting that there are two contestants from Iqaluit (Bonnie Osbourne and Natasha Stevens) who have likely not played against any of the other contestants in the draw. Perhaps the lack of scouting will give these ladies the advantage? Only time will tell. Last year’s winner Angela Pace has to be given strong consideration for the crown this year as well as she defends her title.
Mens D
Men’s D is a little easier for me to speak on, being that four good friends of mine are participating in this division and so I’ve personally played some of the competitors. As well, four juniors (Madison Hurst, Davis Elkin, Iain Brooks, and James Huvenaars) are participating in Men’s D this year, and one of them, Madison, started off his tournament last night with an impressive three game victory over Mark Siemens. One thing is certain about Madison: he doesn’t get tired, and being able to draw games out against the older, slower men may give him an advantage as the tournament progresses. As for the rest of the participants, Bill Maltus and Fritz Griffith certainly have good shots at victory, Obed Duru has historically been a tough out, and Tony Pace proved last year with his victory over potential champ Craig Taggart that he can hang with anyone in the draw.
The Favourite: Craig Taggart
Beginning his tourney by avenging last years’ loss against Tony Pace must have been key for his confidence going forward. Surprisingly strong cardio, makes reasonable choices with the ball, and dives like a seal. Sounds like the formula for a Men’s D champ to me.
The Dark Horse: Harji Sidhu
Got off to a good start last night with an impressive victory. A very well rounded player for Men’s D, just not as consistent as some of the top contenders; but when he’s on, he can beat anyone in this draw. A prelim match with Taggart Wednesday night looms large, the winner will likely have a chance to win the division while the loser will be eliminated.
The Sentimental Favourite: Mark Siemens
Former junior star Siemens returns to The Club to finish what he started. It seems like just yesterday that Mark was competing with last year’s Open champ Chad Hinchey in junior tournaments (quite competitively, I might add), but a long layoff from the game has started him from scratch. A loss to Hurst yesterday night will be difficult to recover from in a pool format, though.
Men’s C
The largest of this year’s divisions with 15 competitors, Men’s C features no shortage of intriguing storylines. Damien Healy’s quest for Year End glory certainly ranks right up there (word on the street is that if he wins, the occasion will be commemorated with the special edition “Aurora Damialis” racquet), as does last year’s consolation winner Chris Puglia’s shot at redemption, and Ryan Twissell’s attempt to make it two Year End’s in a row (he won men’s D last year). And, if that weren’t enough, there’s the possibility of a Redshaw/Redshaw matchup, as Walker returns to his old stomping ground to challenge his brother Braden, as well as Joe Cutten’s daring move from special plate runner up in D to becoming a potential contender in C. Certainly one of the more intriguing divisions, you can be sure that the final in C will have some sort of undertone to it. What that is, though, is yet to be determined.
The Favourite: Chris Puglia
A perennial contender in C, this year may finally be the time for Puglia to come over the top and take home the division. Looked impressive last night, winning his first round match against tough junior Dylan Short in four games.
The Dark Horse: Ryan Twissell
Had a difficult time with Walker Redshaw in the first round, a deceptively tough first-round opponent (Walker was one of the Club’s top juniors not too long ago). Potentially the most solid squash fundamentals in the draw give Twissell an advantage over all the other players in the draw, however, he could, like so many juniors before him, fall victim to the black hole that is “Old Man Squash.”
The Sentimental Favourite: Damien Healy
A recent victory over Club General Manager Kelli Hinchey has Healy riding high, and a tough five-game comeback in his first round match must have him feeling pretty good about his chances. Not so much a favourite as much as a “what if,” a tournament victory by Healy could mean trash talking like it’s never been seen before.
Ladies B
Although there are 9 competitors in the Ladies B draw, the real winner upon closer inspection is Club pro Allan Cook, who has three juniors in competition, a great sign for the girls program as they gear up for their first Canada Games this coming winter. Other notables include Club Manager Kelli Hinchey and Fitness Co-Ordinator Dana Britton, as well as the only competitor from Whitehorse in the tournament this year in Lara Lewis.
The Favourite: Magali Cormier
Always on the court, Magali certainly has the advantage in the draw as far as practice time goes. The only thing that may derail her run to the title is a mid-week excursion to Hay River for the Territorial Track Meet, but if she can return from the three day layoff in top form, she should be a tough draw for anyone.
The Dark Horse: Lara Lewis
With the Whitehorse contingent noticeably absent from the Year-End draw this year, the pressure for a strong showing from the Territory to the west falls squarely on Lewis’ shoulders. Again, it’s difficult to predict how she will finish given her lack of exposure in the NWT, but Whitehorse competitors are notoriously difficult outs in the Year End (sandbaggers? I kid, I kid.), and Lewis could be a threat to give Whitehorse a division win, even when they skip out on the tournament. Gah.
The Sentimental Favourite: Sarah Nesbitt
Nesbitt looks to prep for her Canada Games debut with a win at this year’s Year End, and she certainly has the game to do it. A strong squash base, a cardio advantage, and a tournament opening win are just three advantages Nesbitt takes into the weekend as she attempts to become just the second junior from Yellowknife to breach Ladies A in the last 10 years (at least).
Men’s B
This year’s Men’s B draw has a bit of an out-of-town feel to it, as three players from outside Yellowknife will contest for the crown along with 10 YK’ers. Francois Roussow has to be the clear favourite, as he was the runner-up last year and has the most experience against players at this level out of anyone in the draw (not a dig, just stating the facts). Personal Trainer Paul Shearme will hope to use his fitness to take him to the top, and last year’s Men’s C winner Jeff McPherson looks to make it two in a row with a win this year.
The Favorite: Francois Roussow
Last year’s runner-up returns to finally win the Men’s B title that’s eluded him for so long, and this year, he has a very real chance to do it. Consistency is the only thing that’s stopping Roussow from being an A level player, and it’s certainly possible that this is the week it all comes together.
The Dark Horse: Kevin O’Keefe
Deline’s favourite squash player returns again to contest the Year End. It is very difficult to peg down out-of-towners, but O’Keefe has had some good results at previous Year Ends and could be a tough out.
The Sentimental Favourite: Gary Kamitomo
How can you not root for Kamitomo? Certainly in the running for sweatiest player of the tournament, Kamitomo continues in his quest to catch his son Travis as he attempts to move up the Racquet Club’s squash ladder. Lots of matches against Men’s Open standout Travis can’t hurt, either.
Ladies A
Ladies A is one of the more intriguing draws in this year’s tournament. At the top of the draw appears to be a potential showdown between McMaster University Varsity squash player Katie Buck and Vancouver transfer Niki Radziminski, but standing in their way are a host of credible contenders from Yellowknife, including perennial top finishers Charmaine Wilson, Paula Harker, and Catherine Ardiles, as well as Iqaluit’s Aleta Marriott.
The Favourite: Katie Buck
Do you want to bet against a varsity squash player? I didn’t think so.
The Dark Horse: Charmaine Wilson
Perennially finishing in the top 5 in Ladies A, Wilson should be there at the end again this year. A consistent, solid all-round game can be trouble for anyone in any division on the right night.
The Sentimental Favourite: Crystal Saunders
Inuvik’s lone entry in the tournament is the first NWT woman outside of Yellowknife to compete in Ladies A in a very long time. Saunders is relatively green compared to the majority of her competitors when it comes to top tournament competition and may be a year away, but certainly has the tools and drive to surprise some people this year.
Mens A
Perhaps the year-after-year tournament leader when it comes to entertainment value, Men’s A is where the Year End’s intensity level really starts to heat up. This year’s draw is particularly interesting, as junior Steven Nesbitt attempts to join Travis Kamitomo and Chad and Devin Hinchey in Open with a strong performance, while perennial runner-up Brent Hinchey attempts to finally get over the hump. Greg Kinloch could also emerge as a strong contender based on his win over Devin Hinchey last year, and Harold Wilson has some experience in Open and certainly has the tools to win it all.
The Favourite: Brent Hinchey
Sorry Steven, and I promise I’m not doing this just because he’s my dad. Looking at past performances, Hinchey has to be in strong consideration for the victory every year at the Year End, even though it hasn’t happened yet. You could pencil him into the final based on the fact that he’s gotten there for the last few consecutive years. The only knock on Hinchey are his injury woes – a long tournament with multiple matches in a short period of time seems to be his downfall year after year. With a fairly manageable Thursday/Saturday/Sunday sked this time around, this could be the year it finally all comes together.
The Dark Horse: Harold Wilson
He’s won it before, and he can certainly win it again – Harold has spent some time in Open in the past, and although inactivity has brought him back to the A division, he has shown he can win against top competition.
The Sentimental Favourite: Uwe Naeher
A longtime Yellowknifer who recently made the move to Africa, it would be fun to see Uwe win just so The Club could say it had a champion from another continent.
Masters Division
The following three “exhibition” divisions are short on competitors but long on talent, and so I won’t be picking winners in them. The 50+ “Masters” division is always one of the more entertaining watches at the Year End, and this year should be no exception. Hugh Richardson returns to defend his title, and should be the favourite to do so, but will be challenged by Wayne Nesbitt and Don Bruce, from Prince George. Dave Macpherson possesses potentially the best hands in the Racquet Club and is an absolute treat to watch as well (plus he makes for some great trash talk).
Ladies Exhibition
Debuting this year, the Ladies Exhibition draw features a top-notch collection of Canadian squash talent. On paper, the favourite to win is clearly Calgary’s Susie King, the number 3 ranked woman in the nation, but she will be tested by Kelsey Souchereau, the number 11 ranked player in Canada. Juniors Kensie Balch, from Edmonton, who recently finished third at junior nationals, and local standout Pooja Chugh, the recently crowned Sport North athlete of the year, round out the field. Expect some face paced, incredible squash, the way it is meant to be played. The spectators are the real winners here, as I encourage everyone to come out and watch some squash at a level you don’t normally get to see north of 60.
Men’s Exhibition
As indicated above, the Exhibition draws are an incredible chance to see some world-class squash in Yellowknife. The Men’s exhibition draw features returning champ Thomas Brinkman from Prince George, British Columbia, who is currently ranked 13th in the nation. Looking to take his crown will be 9th ranked Matt Serediak from Toronto, who makes his Year End debut. Rounding out the field are local pro and standout Allan Cook and Jay Giachino, respectively, tournament mainstay Matt Grigg and a local qualifier from the Open division. Again, the wildly varying levels of play between participants here renders predictions unnecessary, but expect some incredible matches over the weekend that will leave the spectators buzzing.
Men’s Open
The final division in the tournament (as well as the one I will be participating in) is Men’s Open, where 12 participants will vie for the title this year. The field is more full than usual, and you can expect some great matches, family grudges, and the potential passing of the torch to the young guns. As I am participating in the tournament, I have chosen not to make predictions, however, view my breakdown of all the participants here.So there you have it! You are now sufficiently prepped for the squash portion of the Racquet Club Year End Tournament! I strongly suggest that you come out and check out the action, even if you aren’t playing, as The Club will be buzzing with activity all week. Check out more information here.See you there!
