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NWT’s best in sport honoured at Sport North Awards

Amidst all the things that haven’t happened since Covid-19, you’d be forgiven if you forgot the Sport North Awards being handed out in person was one of them.
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Joan Hirons of the NWT 55+ Games Association received the Ruth Inch Memorial Contributor to Sport Award at the Sport North Awards on May 27. Hannah Eden photo

Amidst all the things that haven’t happened since Covid-19, you’d be forgiven if you forgot the Sport North Awards being handed out in person was one of them.

The awards were back in person for the first time since 2019 with this year’s ceremony taking place at the Explorer Hotel on May 27. It was a packed house for good reason — the winners who were supposed to receive their awards in both 2020 and 2022 were finally given their just due, while the class of 2021, known as the Covid Heroes, were also honoured.

The winners on the night included Kali Skauge, who was named the Robin Mercer-Sproule Junior Female Athlete of the Year for speed skating.

In accepting the award, Skauge got a bit emotional as she thanked everyone who got her to this point.

“All my coaches for always encouraging me in my really busy schedule,” she said. “Especially, my coach, Kerry (Egan), for always pushing me to be the best at everything that I do.”

Kerry Galusha added yet another award to her burgeoning trophy case as she was named the Mary Beth Miller Senior Female Athlete of the Year.

“It’s so nice to see everyone again after the last few years being cancelled,” she said in accepting the award. “It’s a great honour to accept this award. We all know curling is a team sport, so I couldn’t have done it (my teammates). I’ve learned a lot from them and they’re great teammates.”

The Coach of the Year category had the most nominees and the chosen one was Jeff Hipfner for his work in squash.

Spider Jones, outgoing president of NWT Squash, had a few words to say before Hipfner accepted his award.

“Jeff epitomizes what an exemplary coach aspires to: preparation fraught with detail and consideration,” he said. “Execution rife with encouragement and praise, never satisfied with the status quo, continually striving for self-improvement. All to provide his athletes with an experience that resonates with ‘you matter, you’re important, you belong’.”

Bill Othmer, Sport North’s executive director, said being back in person after such a long absence was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate.

“You could feel the energy and excitement in the room as we were able to get together to honour past and current recipients,” he said. “Thanks to the TSOs (territorial sport organizations) who nominated their athletes and thanks to the awards selection committee — made up of TSOs — who chose the winners.”

2023 Sport North Award winners

Youth Female Athlete of the Year

Sofia Ardiles, squash

Youth Male Athlete of the Year

Seiya McEachern, speed skating

Robin Mercer-Sproule Junior Female Athlete of the Year

Kali Skauge, speed skating

Junior Male Athlete of the Year

Sage Acorn, speed skating

Mary Beth Miller Senior Female Athlete of the Year

Kerry Galusha, curling

Senior Male Athlete of the Year

Kevin Cull, taekwondo

Coach of the Year

Jeff Hipfner, squash

Dennis Crane Memorial Official of the Year

Blair Chapman, speed skating

Corporate Contributor

Gastown — owner Jamie Pye

Ruth Inch Memorial Contributor to Sport

Joan Hirons, NWT 55+ Games Association

Delma Kisoun Memorial Community Contributor

Thorsten Gohl

Team of the Year

Team Wainman, curling



About the Author: James McCarthy

I'm the managing editor with NNSL Media and have been so since 2022.
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