Community
INUVIK – The 2026 Gwich’in Cup brought a full week of youth hockey to Inuvik as the tournament returned for its 25th anniversary, running from Wednesday, March 18 through to the finals on Sunday, March 22. With games scheduled throughout the day, the Midnight Sun Complex became a busy gathering place for players, families, and supporters arriving from communities across the Northwest Territories.
Organizers reported about 260 youth participants took part in the milestone year. While games were already underway earlier in the week, the ceremonial opening was held Friday night and included a welcoming address and ceremonial puck drop by Gwich’in Grand Chief Frederick Blake Jr., an opening prayer led by Gwich’in Elder Sarah Jerome, and the national anthem performed by Alaina Jo-Beaudin.
Juliet Miranda, interim chief executive officer of the Gwich’in Tribal Council (GTC), said the tournament continues to stand out because it creates a competitive tournament environment for youth who may not otherwise get the chance to join travelling teams during the season.
One of the Gwich’in Cup’s defining features is its long-standing “No Player Left Behind” approach. Rather than relying only on pre-formed community teams, the tournament registers players individually and uses a draft format to build mixed rosters. The goal is to remove barriers and ensure youth can participate even when their home community doesn’t have a full minor hockey program or enough players to ice a team on its own.
That model has helped the tournament maintain a broad regional reach over the years, drawing youth connected to communities across the Mackenzie Delta region and beyond, including Inuvik, Aklavik, Fort McPherson, Tsiigehtchic, Tuktoyaktuk, and Paulatuk.
Organizers described months of preparation to deliver the anniversary week. Tournament operations and on-ice logistics are led through the Inuvik Minor Hockey Association, while the GTC supports the event through financial backing and by coordinating meals and activities for the players.
Miranda also credited the parents, volunteers, staff, and community supporters who helped keep the tournament moving from the first games on Wednesday through the final day on Sunday.
Alongside the competition, the 25th anniversary highlighted the cultural foundation of the event. Posters and messages throughout the facility encouraged youth to carry Gwich’in values into how they played, how they treated opponents, and how they represented their communities:
To commemorate the milestone year, the GTC gifted every participating player a custom jersey and socks. The weekend concluded with an awards ceremony recognizing both performance and conduct, including honours for sportsmanship, best defence, and best goalie.
A special Gwich’in values award was also presented to a player who demonstrated exceptional kindness, honour, and respect throughout the week. With the final buzzer sounded on Sunday, organizers noted the success of the anniversary edition is already building momentum toward next year’s Gwich’in Cup.
Representative Body of the Gwich'in Nation
The Gwich'in Tribal Council (GTC) is the governing body of the Gwich'in First Nations of the Northwest Territories. Led by and for our people, the GTC is dedicated to managing our lands, protecting our inherent rights, preserving our culture, sustaining our language, and advancing economic development to ensure a vibrant, self-determined future for the Gwich'in Nation.
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