Five hockey players from Inuvik, NWT, were in town last week competing for spots on the Jr. ‘B’ Wolves. Training camp began last week, and Greg Elias, Kelly McLeod, Vern Smith, Chris Smith and Kyle Kuptana were all working hard to impress coach Kevin Imrie.
So far, so good, says Imrie.
“I’m pretty pleased with most of the kids,” he says. “Tuesday was one of the best practices I’ve ever seen. The kids were excited.”
The Leader met with Elias, Vern Smith and McLeod last Thursday and asked how they’re doing.
“Pretty good,” said Elias, the 15-year-old goaltender.
“Stiff,” said Vern.
The five all played their Midget hockey in Inuvik, a town of about 4,000 in the Mackenzie River delta. They got the try-out with the Wolves, they said, through their Midget coach.
Inuvik has a really good minor hockey program, says Vern, but if anyone wants to play Junior, they have no choice but to leave home. The Inuvik five were due to be here until Sunday – longer if they made the cut.
Off the ice what’s impressed them most about Slave Lake is the golf course. Inuvik lacks one.
“It’s awesome,” said McLeod.
Coach Kevin Imrie says the tryouts have been “pretty good so far.
“I’m pretty pleased with all the kids,” he says.
Imrie says he was encouraged by seeing more enthusiasm at the first practice last Tuesday than he saw for big parts of last season.
“The kids were excited,” he says. “For whatever reason, it worked.”
Nobody should get too comfortable though.
“We’re still in pursuit of more players,” says Imrie. “This weekend won’t be the end of it.”
About 30 players have turned up so far.

Copyright © 2000 The Lakeside Leader. All Rights Reserved.
No part may be reproduced without written permission.

View our Privacy Statement.
Send website suggestions to the Webmaster