After arena fire, Tuktoyaktuk, N.W.T., takes hockey outdoors

People in Tuktoyaktuk, N.W.T., aren't letting a fire stop them from getting their skates on.

They came together and made an outdoor rink in the centre of town on Cubby Lake after a fire at Kitti Hall damaged the old arena last month.

Tuktoyaktuk recreation co-ordinator Sophie Stefure says players will now get to skate on a bigger sheet of ice compared to the old one.

"We've got a generator light stand out there for the evenings," Stefure said. "It's on from 4 to 10 so it gives lots of good light." 

“It's been cold these last few days, so there hasn't been too many people there but on the nice days, there's a lot of people playing.”

The new rink comes just in time: this weekend is the Lawrence Thrasher memorial 4 on 4 hockey tournament.

That’s fitting, because Thrasher was known for going out of his way to make an ice rink on the lake, so children had a place to play hockey anytime.