Nunavut hockey player, 9, crowdfunding to play in elite European, Russian hockey tournaments

By Sheena Goodyear

When asked what he likes about hockey, nine-year-old Nunavut prodigy Atiqtalaaq Uuttuvak — a.k.a. “Tiny Q” — answers without hesitation: “Everything!”

His mother Anita Uuttuvak said, “He really enjoys the sport. He has a great passion for it. It’s something he’s made for.”

Atiqtalaaq has been playing hockey since he was four years old. He’s a forward for the Ottawa Sting Minor Atom A, and he’s good judging by the 29 points he’s scored in 27 games this season.

So good, in fact, that he’s been invited to play in the Warriors Elite Series this summer in Europe, one year above his age category, and in the Tretjak Cup in Russia.

“I’m really excited,” Atiqtalaaq said. “It’s one of my dreams. There’s really good players there and it will improve my hockey and I might have a chance to see some of the NHL players.”

Both are coveted spots, offered only to the best by hockey coaches. But travelling across the world for hockey tournaments is expensive, especially for a child of a single mom of two attending university.

That’s why Anita is fundraising money and Aeroplan points online to send Atiqtalaaq to Europe and Russia. He’s particularly excited about the latter, she said.

“He’s never been invited before. He kinda sees it as the other Arctic, the other North. It would be an amazing experience to go over there,” she said.

So far, she’s raised all the points she needs for her, Atiqtalaaq and his brother to fly there, but is still falling short of her $21,000 goal. That money, she said, will cover things like hotels, tournament fees, buses and meals.

Even when he’s not being invited to travel the world, Atiqtalaaq’s passion and pastime is a pricey one. Anita and Atiqtalaaq's father do whatever they can to keep up with the costs.

“Hockey is an expensive sport and we do have obstacles, but he’s just happy people are helping,” said Atiqtalaaq’s mother, who moved to Ottawa with her two boys in 2008 so she could study psychology at the University of Ottawa.

"You’re applying for subsidies wherever you can. It’s kind of like a part-time job.”

But the effort is worth it for Tiny Q, whose No. 1 goal in life is to play for the NHL.

“I’ve always encouraged him to go for your dreams and if you get them, that’s great,” she said. “Some people will say put work in and you’ll get it. But luckily for him, what they call work, he calls play.”

Atiqtalaaq hopes to follow in the footsteps of one of his heroes, the New Jersey Devils’ Jordin Tootoo. The two have met each other in person already.

Tootoo grew up in Rankin Inlet and is the first Inuk and the first person from Nunavut to play in the NHL.

“He looks up to him because he went through obstacles to get where he is today,” Anita said. “They’re both from Nunavut and they’re both very proud.”

Before handing the phone back to his mom, Atiqtalaaq said he wants to thank everyone who has helped him out.

“I love playing for Canada," he said.