By Derek Cornet

Team North wins 17 medals at Winter Games

Feb 27, 2018 | 4:00 PM

The strength of Team North was evident at the Saskatchewan Winter Games, as athletes returned with 17 medals.

“It’s one of our best standings,” said Ryan Karakochuk, program manager for the Northern Sport, Culture and Recreation District. “We had 47 athletes and 17 medals, so our percentage of medaling was the highest out of all the districts.”

Although Team North finished in eighth place out of nine, Karakochuk noted the North only sent a third as many athletes as other districts. A total of 54 communities were represented by Team North, including Black Lake, Creighton, Cumberland House, Fond-du-Lac, Île-à-la-Crosse, La Ronge, La Loche and Montreal Lake.

Karakochuk said the team was awarded five gold, six silver and six bronze medals, with 10 of them coming from cross-country skiing athletes. Another three medals were won in Judo, two in wrestling, and another two in Special Olympics bowling. The Winter Games took place in North Battleford from Feb. 18-24.

“It’s just one of those experiences that happens every four years and it mimics the real Olympics,” Karakochuk said. “It’s not easy getting [the athletes] there because a lot of them don’t know to expect. Once they’re there, they realize they’re there for a reason, and they are really good in their sport.”

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The Winter Games is one of the biggest multi-sport competitions in Saskatchewan, Karakochuk added. To compete, he said athletes needed to be affiliated through their sport’s provincial governing body. As a result, he said, Team North athletes had a chance to measure themselves against the best competitors in the province.

“The fact they get a chance to compete at the highest level in the province in their sport gives them an idea about where they are,” Karakochul said.  

derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno