MEDIA BOOKLETSouth Slave, NWT March 18 - 24, 2018

Background on the Arctic Winter Games

The Arctic Winter Games are an international sport festival bringing together athletes from Alaska, Greenland, Northern Alberta, Northwest Territories, Nunavik (Northern Quebec), Nunavut, Yukon, Yamal (Russia) and Sapmi (Northern Scandinavia). The Arctic Winter Games have a unique flavour; they are known as the “friendly games” as they combine competitive and cultural aspects.

The concept of the Arctic Winter Games was developed as a direct result of the experiences of northern athletes at the 1967 Canada Winter Games. Representatives of the Yukon and Northwest Territories realized that their teams were at a disadvantage due to relatively small athlete pools, lack of facilities and infrequent training opportunities. Therefore, the concept of an event specificially designed for northern athletes was born.

The first Games were staged in 1970 in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, and these Games have occurred every two years since, alternating among the participating contingents. Team Alberta North joined the Arctic Winter Games in 1986.

The athletes named to Team Alberta North have improved their skills from instructional clinics, training camps and selection events. Participants are looking forward to competing against their northern counterparts.

BackgroundTEAM ALBERTA NORTH

Team Alberta North will send 239 athletes, cultural participants, coaches and mission staff representing 36 communities north of the 55th parallel to participate in the following sports:

Arctic Sports Gymnastics Badminton Hockey, Female Biathlon Ski Hockey, Male Cross Country Skiing Snowboarding Culture Snowshoeing Curling Speed Skating Dene Games Table Tennis Figure Skating Volleyball, Female Futsal, Female Volleyball, Male Futsal, Male Wrestling

PAST HOST COMMUNITIES

1970 Yellowknife, NWT 1998 Yellowknife, NWT 1972 Whitehorse, YK 2000 Whitehorse, YK 1974 Anchorage, Alaska 2002 Nuuk, Greenland 1976 Shefferville, QC and Iqaluit, Nunavut 1978 Hay River/Pine Point, NWT 2004 Regional Municipality of 1980 Whitehorse, YK Wood Buffalo, AB 1982 Fairbanks, Alaska 2006 Kenai Peninsula, Alaska 1984 Yellowknife, NWT 2008 Yellowknife, NWT 1986 Whitehorse, YK 2010 Grande Prairie, AB 1988 Fairbanks, Alaska 2012 Whitehorse, YK 1990 Yellowknife, NWT 2014 Fairbanks, Alaska 1992 Whitehorse, YK 2016 Nuuk, Greenland 1994 Slave Lake, AB 1996 Eagle River/Chugiak, Alaska

2018 CONTINGENTS Alaska Nunavut Alberta North Sapmi (Northern Scandinavia) Greenland Yamal (Russia) Northwest Territories Yukon Nunavik (Northern Quebec)

AwardsULU

The medal awarded at the Arctic Winter Games is designed in the shape of an Ulu, the legendary knife of the Arctic. The Ulu is the traditional Inuit knife and has been commonly used as an all purpose tool in the Arctic for centuries.

The Ulu has become a symbol of athletic achievement at the Arctic Winter Games where Gold, Silver and Bronze Ulus are awarded to athletes who finish 1st, 2nd or 3rd respectively.

HODGSON TROPHY

At the conclusion of each Arctic Winter Games, the Arctic Winter Games International Committee presents the Hodgson Trophy to the contingent whose athletes, coaches and mission staff best exemplify the ideals of sportsmanship.

The distinctive trophy was donated in 1978 by Commissioner S.M. Hodgson of the Northwest Territories. The trophy is a native Inuit piece of artwork from the Canadian Arctic.

Scrimshaw decorates the narwhal tusk that stands as the centerpiece of the trophy, which is mounted on a soapstone base. A walrus carved into the base wraps itself around the tusk, symbolizing “reaching for the top” in athletics and sportsmanship.

Previous Winners of the Hodgson Trophy are: 1978-88 Yukon 1990 Alaska 1992 Northwest Territories 1994 Greenland 1996 Northwest Territories 1998 Yukon 2000 Nunavut 2002 Greenland 2004 Nunavut 2006 Alaska 2008 Nunavut 2010 Alaska 2012 Nunavut 2014 Greenland 2016 Alaska

FAIR PLAY PIN

The Arctic Winter Games International Committee produces Fair Play pins for distribution to athletes, coaches, volunteers and officials at the Games. Fair Play pins are presented to those individuals who demonstrate an understanding of the philosophy of the Arctic Winter Games and exemplify the spirit of fair play during the Games. Arctic Winter Games International Committee Board Members, Chefs de Mission and the head official from each sport are provided with a number of these pins to present to individuals who exemplify fair play during the week.

2016 Overall ResultsCONTINGENT GOLD SILVER BRONZE TOTALAlaska 83 67 66 216

Yukon 23 41 36 100

Alberta North 29 32 27 88

Greenland 39 23 19 81

Northwest Territories 16 12 23 51

Nunavut 6 18 25 49

Nunavik Quebec 6 9 6 21

Sapmi 8 7 4 19

Yamal 2 5 1 8

SPORT GOLD SILVER BRONZE TOTAL*Alpine Skiing 2 2 1 5

Arctic Sports 5 4 5 14

Badminton 2 3 5 10

Biathlon - Ski 1 2 2 5

Cross Country Skiing - 1 1 2

Dene Games 1 2 3 6

Futsal, Junior Female - 1 - 1

Futsal, Junior Male - - - -

Futsal, Juvenile Female - - 1 1

Futsal, Juvenile Male - - - -

Hockey, Junior Female - 1 - 1

Hockey, Bantam Male 1 - - 1

Snowboarding 10 6 2 18

Snowshoeing - - 1 1

Table Tennis - - 1 1

Volleyball, Junior Female - 1 - 1

Volleyball, Junior Male 1 - - 1

Wresting 6 9 5 20

2016 Team Alberta North Results

TOTAL 29 32 27 88

* The sport marked with a (*) is not part of the 2018 Arctic Winter Games

2018 Team Alberta North Team Size

2018 AWG – TEAM SIZE, AGE

SPORT

ATHLETE COACH

TOTAL

AGE RANGE AGES AS OF DEC

31/17 M F M F MALE FEMALE

Arctic Sports 8 8 1 1 18 4 – Born 1995 or later 4 – Born 2001 or later

3 – Born 1995 or later 5 – Born 2001 or later

U23 U17

Badminton 4 4 1 1 10 2 – Born 1999 or later 2 – Born 2002 or later

2 – Born 1999 or later 2 – Born 2002 or later

U19 U16

Biathlon – Ski 3 2 1 1 7 2 - Born between 1999 -

2002 1 – Born 2003 or later

2 - Born between 1999 – 2002

16-19 U15

Cross Country Ski 4 7 1 2 14

1 – Born in 2000 or 2001 2 – Born in 2002 or 2003 1 – Born in 2004 or 2005

1 – Born in 2000 or 2001 4 – Born in 2002 or 2003 2 – Born in 2004 or 2005

17-18 15-16 13-14

Cultural Participants 0 3 1 1 5 0 - Born between 1997 -

2002 3 - Born between 1997 –

2002 16-21

Curling, Male 4 0 1 0 5 4 – Born 1999 or later --- U19

Curling, Female 0 4 0 1 5 --- 4 – Born 1999 or later U19

Dene Games 8 8 1 1 18 4 - Born 1995 or later 4 – Born 2000 or later

4 - Born 2000 or later 4 – Born 2002 or later

U23 U18 U16

Figure Skating 0 8 0 2 10 --- 8 - Born between 2000 – 2007 10-18

Futsal, Male 9 0 1 0 10 9 – Born 2004 or later --- U14

Futsal, Female 0 9 0 1 10 --- 9 – Born 2004 or later U14

Gymnastics 0 4 0 1 5 --- 4 -Born 2000 or later U18

Hockey, Male 17 0 2 0 19 17 - Born 2003 or later --- U15

Hockey, Female 0 17 1 1 19 --- 17 - Born 1999 or later U19

Snowboarding 4 2 1 1 8 2 – Born 2002 or later 2 – Born 2004 or later

1 – Born 2002 or later 1 – Born 2004 or later

U16 U14

Snowshoeing 4 4 1 1 10 2 – Born 1999 or later 2 – Born 2003 or later

2 – Born 1999 or later 2 – Born 2003 or later

U19 U15

Speed Skating 4 4 1 1 10 4 - Born Jul 1/98 - Jun 30/03

4 - Born Jul 1/98 - Jun 30/03 15-20

Table Tennis 2 2 1 1 6 2 – Born 2000 or later 2 – Born 2000 or later U18

Volleyball, Male 10 0 1 0 11 10 - Born 1999 or later --- U19

Volleyball, Female 0 10 0 1 11 --- 10 - Born 1999 or later U19

Wrestling 7 5 1 1 14 7 - Born between 2001 - 2004

5 - Born between 2001 - 2004 14-17

TOTAL 88 101 17 19 225

Mission Staff

Media Inquires

A group of sport volunteers and professionals will serve as mission staff for Team Alberta North at the Games. They are responsible for a number of organizational tasks prior to the Games, such as transportation, uniforms, accommodations as well as ongoing communications with teams and the host society.

During the Games, each Team Alberta North sport and the cultural contingent will have a mission staff liaison assigned to help make their participation in the Games run smoothly.

Team Alberta North media inquires can be made to Jerry George, Media Liaison at:

(587) 989-4035 (C) (780) 415-9714 (B)

jerry.george@albertasport.ca

For more Team Alberta North information including athlete profiles, results, news, photos and sport schedules visit teamalberta.org and follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/TeamAB and Twitter at @GoTeamAB

MISSION STAFF CELL ASSIGNMENTSJerry George 587-989-4035 Chef de Mission

Michelle Deering 587-989-4023 Assistant Chef de Mission

Cam Berwald 587-989-3978 Hockey (F), Table Tennis

Katie Biberdorf 780-876-6779 Biathlon-Ski, Gymnastics

Janet Fairless 780-618-7326 Badminton, Hockey (M)

Karna Germsheid 780-518-5506 Dene Games

Julie Hurd 780-838-5521 Arctic Sports, Figure Skating

Dave Hurta 780-518-2278 Medical Liaison - Hay River

Pat Lechelt 587-989-4025 Volleyball (M/F)

Sean McConnell 780-849-1782 Snowshoeing, Wrestling

Heidi McMahon 780-296-0245 Cross Country Skiing, Speed Skating

Wendy Moar 204-583-3040 Futsal (M/F)

Steven Patrick 587-989-4037 Curling (M/F)

Ula Naszynska-Spitzer 403-607-7357 Medical Liaison - Fort Smith, Snowboarding

NAME HOMETOWN CATEGORYLiz Gustafson Saddle Hills County CoachTim Horsman Slave Lake CoachMelanie Curtis Grande Prairie Open FemaleAusten Fraser Grande Prairie Junior FemaleJack Hasenclever Grande Prairie Junior Male

Sam Hasenclever Grande Prairie Open MaleZachary Hodge Grande Prairie Open MaleFaith Johnstone Grande Prairie Junior FemaleElijah Lamouche High Level Open MaleDelaney Mayer Grande Prairie Junior FemaleCruz McGregor Slave Lake Junior MaleTyson Nahachick John D'Or Open MaleEmma Noskey Grande Prairie Junior FemaleAbby Power Grande Prairie Junior FemaleJared Quinsey Grande Prairie Junior MaleChristina Shantz Grande Prairie Open FemaleJames Somera High Level Junior MaleMaddy Tourangeau Grande Prairie Open Female

Arctic Sports

BadmintonNAME HOMETOWN CATEGORYKathie Harrop Peace River CoachDarren Yee Fort McMurray CoachKovi Altoveros Fort McMurray Juvenile FemaleChristian Cao Fort McMurray Juvenile MaleSamuel Duguay Fort McMurray Juvenile MaleKrisha Mejica Grande Prairie Junior FemaleDhruv Patel Fort McMurray Junior MaleAaron Quan Fort McMurray Junior MaleDhanekka Rajakulendran Fort McMurray Juvenile FemaleKennedy Turcotte Falher Junior Female

Biathlon - SkiNAME HOMETOWN CATEGORYCori Janes Grande Prairie CoachMichael Morgan Grande Prairie CoachMiranda Hopkins Grande Prairie Junior FemaleHannah Lundstrom Grande Prairie Junior FemaleJordan Lundstrom Grande Prairie Junior MaleLiam Tinworth Grande Prairie Juvenile MaleDonovan Wallace Grande Prairie Junior Male

NAME HOMETOWN CATEGORYDamaris Green Fort McMurray CoachJake Pruden Grande Prairie CoachClaire Richter Grande Prairie Coach

Aiden Armstrong Grande Prairie Midget Male

Grace Bertozzi Grande Prairie Juvenile Female

Carla Denkema Grande Prairie Juvenile Female

Caitlyn Lynch Grande Prairie Midget Female

Kelan Lynch Grande Prairie Junior Male

Makena Pruden Grande Prairie Juvenile Female

Jared Reitz Fort McMurray Juvenile Male

Leah Reitz Fort McMurray Junior Female

Magdalene Reitz Fort McMurray Midget Female

Makayla Sarapuk Fort Vermilion Juvenile Female

Seamus Ventic-Ricketts Grande Prairie Juvenile Male

Cross Country Skiing

CultureNAME HOMETOWN CATEGORYTana Chitenga Fort McMurray Manager

Jessica Dichabe Fort McMurray ChaperoneAmanda Chatukuta Fort McMurray Cultural ParticipantTrisha Dichabe Fort McMurray Cultural ParticipantBridget Seitshiro Fort McMurray Cultural Participant

Curling, FemaleNAME HOMETOWN POSITIONCarla Radke Grande Prairie Coach

Brynn Lutz Sexsmith LeadDelaney Norrish Grande Prairie ThirdMicyla Radke Grande Prairie SkipLori Thorson La Glace Second

Curling, MaleNAME HOMETOWN POSITIONLes Sonnenberg Grande Prairie Coach

Adam Elsenheimer Grande Prairie LeadOwen Fenske Grande Prairie ThirdDevin Moen Grande Prairie SecondCortland Sonnenberg Grande Prairie Skip

NAME HOMETOWN CATEGORYFlossie Cyprean Fort Chipewyan Coach Darrel Laboucan Wabasca CoachWade Apannah-Pastion High Level Open MaleHana Black Fort McKay Junior FemaleKeisha Bourke Fort Chipewyan Junior FemaleJimmy Cardinal Janvier Junior MaleMikeela Cooper Fort McKay Juvenile FemaleShania Desjarlais Conklin Junior FemaleZoe Ey Canyon Creek Juvenile FemaleLuke Hodge Grande Priaire Junior MalePeter Marcel Fort Chipewyan Open Male

Dawson Mercredi Fort Chipewyan Junior MaleStarr Neesotasis Slave Lake Juvenile FemaleRaye-Lynn Richards Conklin Junior FemaleDakota Tremblay Conklin Open MaleBrent Waquan Fort Chipewyan Junior MaleReanna Whiteknife Fort McMurray Juvenile FemaleRiley Whiteknife Fort McMurray Open Male

Dene Games

Figure SkatingNAME HOMETOWN CATEGORYCheryl Jobson Grande Prairie Coach

Tania Miller-Sauve Fort McMurray CoachRochelle Beekman Grande Prairie Level 1Abigail Boone Fitzpatrick Grande Prairie Level 4Faith Crummy Fort McMurray Level 3Alyssa Edwards Grande Prairie Level 1Sadie Finnebraaten Wembley Level 2Raquel Kwiatkowski Grande Prairie Level 4Kaiya Macdougall Fort McMurray Level 2Kayla Welygan Grande Prairie Level 3

Futsal, Juvenile FemaleNAME HOMETOWN POSITIONChristine Reid Grande Prairie CoachMeghan Bielecki Fort McMurray DefenderMedea Chiba Grande Prairie MidfieldIndira Germain Grande Prairie MidfieldRofyda Khaleel Fort McMurray MidfieldNatalie Kirk Grande Prairie DefenderJazzmyn Lester Grande Prairie KeeperAlyssa Lutz Grande Prairie StrikerAriha Tahir Fort McMurray StrikerKiera Thomas Fort McMurray Midfield

Futsal, Juvenile MaleNAME HOMETOWN POSITIONShervin Hajami Fort McMurray Coach

Kai Bancesco Grande Prairie Midfield

Aaron Bessong Fort McMurray Striker

Evan Doerksen Grande Prairie Keeper

Munashe Maranga Fort McMurray Defender

Ada Polat Fort McMurray Defender

Josh Richardson Grande Prairie Midfield

Rion Schulz Fort McMurray Defender

Tarik Seifedine Fort McMurray Defender

James Shewfelt Grande Prairie Midfield

GymnasticsNAME HOMETOWN CATEGORYTerri Bateman Grande Prairie Coach

Onna Brooks Grande Prairie Junior FemaleSavanna Pardy Fort McMurray Junior FemaleGrayson Reid Fort McMurray Junior FemaleAila Spronk Grande Prairie Junior Female

NAME HOMETOWN POSITION JERSEYRoxy Brocklebank High Level CoachMike Carlsen Fort McMurray CoachKennedy Buchan High Prairie Forward 8Myah Casault High Level Forward 9Aydin Chisaakay-Soucy High Level Defense 2Delaney Cunningham High Prairie Goaltender 1Kali Cunningham Gift Lake Defense 3Nyah Czaban Valleyview Defense 4Sanne Hansen Fairview Forward 10Kennedy Hartman Slave Lake Forward 11Rhys Johnson Beaverlodge Forward 12Kali Laderoute High Prairie Forward 14Allie Lorencz Manning Goaltender 31Shanna Mierzewski Hines Creek Defense 5Shelby-lyn Richards Sexsmith Forward 15Abby Robinson Peace River Forward 16Sierra Turk Wabasca Defense 6Tea Vasseur Fairview Forward 17Trae Weller Beaverlodge Defense 7

Hockey, Female

NAME HOMETOWN POSITION JERSEYDamon Jeffs Peace River CoachSimon Juckes High Level Coach

Ethan Alook-Ferguson Horse Lake First Nation Forward 8

Logan Bjornson Hines Creek Forward 9Hudson Chalifoux High Prairie Defence 2Cooper Coates Beaverlodge Defence 3Jordan Fitzpatrick Fort McMurray Forward 10Joseph Gerwatoski Crooked Creek Defence 4Jacob Hartman Slave Lake Defence 5Brandon MacIntyre Fort McMurray Forward 11Kyle Maloney Grande Prairie Forward 12Adam Morrow Fairview Forward 14Sheldon Parliament Fairview Forward 15Levi Pharis Manning Defence 6Jacobi Rouleau Grande Prairie Forward 16Thomas Sellin Grande Prairie Goaltender 1Dalton Seniantha Chateh Forward 17Owen Taylor Grande Prairie Goaltender 31Tucker Vinck Wanham Defence 7

Hockey, Bantam Male

NAME HOMETOWN CATEGORYDevon Leys Slave Lake Coach

Lori Whitby Slave Lake Coach

Carlee Dick Canyon Creek Junior Female

Jacob Farnsworth Grande Prairie Juvenile Male

Brandon Fontaine Fort Chipewyan Junior Male

Montana Ross Slave Lake Junior Male

Lydia Steinke Grande Prairie Junior Female

Adam Twelvetree Grande Prairie Juvenile Male

Madison Twelvetree Grande Prairie Juvenile Female

Julie Vance Slave Lake Juvenile Female

Snowshoeing

NAME HOMETOWN CATEGORYKarli Gordon Grande Prairie Coach

Drew Rogers Grande Prairie Coach

Dylan Dachuk Grande Prairie Junior Male

Ella Kuhn Beaverlodge Juvenile Female

Sterling McNeilly Fort McMurray Junior Male

Becker Olson Grande Prairie Juvenile Male

Jamie Pasmore Grande Prairie Junior Female

Linden Rakestraw Grande Prairie Juvenile Male

Snowboarding

Speed SkatingNAME HOMETOWN CATEGORYJohn MacLennan Grande Prairie CoachXaverie MacLennan Grande Prairie Coach

Hayley Ferguson Grimshaw Junior FemaleAnthony Guenther Grande Prairie Junior MaleDeklan Hewlett Grande Prairie Junior MaleDori MacLennan Grande Prairie Junior FemaleRanslee MacLennan Grande Prairie Junior MaleBrielle Schoorlemmer Rycroft Juvenile FemaleTeneea Schoorlemmer Rycroft Junior FemaleBennett Winnicky-Lewis Grande Prairie Junior Male

NAME HOMETOWN CATEGORYRonila Lanada Grande Prairie CoachChad Doepker Grande Prairie Chaperone

Varyk Doepker Grande Prairie Juvenile MaleJayden Johnson Grande Prairie Juvenile MaleNoël Nichol Grande Prairie Juvenile FemaleBronwyn Sargeant Grande Prairie Juvenile Female

Table Tennis

Volleyball, MaleNAME HOMETOWN POSITION JERSEYHugh Bartlett Grande Prairie CoachJustice Bigstone-Cardinal Wabasca Middle 15

Jacob Braun Fort McMurray Outside Hitter 7Ryan Breen Sexsmith Outside Hitter 4Thomas Chmilar Grande Prairie Middle 9Josh Dumont Grande Prairie Middle 14Andrew Fogle Grande Prairie Setter/Libero 5Tyler Funk Grande Prairie Outside Hitter 6Bradley Noskey Grande Prairie Setter/Libero 10Levi Power-Fardy Grande Prairie Middle 12Patrick Tuttle Grande Prairie Outside Hitter 13

Volleyball, FemaleNAME HOMETOWN POSITION JERSEYErin Henning Grande Prairie CoachEmily Batt Grande Prairie Right Side 10Amy Chailler Grande Prairie Libero 2Vanessa Loos Grande Prairie Left Side 8Tori Macooh Spirit River Left Side 1Taylor McDonald Grande Prairie Middle 4Hayley McNaught Woking Middle 15Stephanie Miller Grande Prairie Right Side 11Rachel Perry Grande Prairie Left Side/Middle 6Anastasia Potratz Spirit River Setter 3Ashley Rafferty Peace River Setter 12

NAME HOMETOWN CATEGORYErin Grier Grande Prairie CoachAdam Link Sexsmith CoachSarah Anderson DeBolt 60 kg FemaleLanden Badger Sexsmith 60 kg MaleDevon Barnfield Sexsmith 78 kg MaleSamson Coward Grande Prairie 55 kg MaleKarl Koester Widewater 96 kg MaleKaden Link Sexsmith 65 kg MaleSarah Palfy Sexsmith 71 kg FemaleJason Pangracs Grande Prairie 85 kg MaleCourtney Reason Slave Lake 55 kg FemaleSidney Simon-Steel Sexsmith 50 kg FemaleMorgan Smith Grande Prairie 65 kg FemaleCarson Woodburn Grande Prairie 70 kg Male

Wrestling

Notes:

Notes: