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 afire at Kitti Hall damaged the old arena last month.

Tuktoyaktukrecreation co-ordinatorSophie 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 memorial4 on 4 hockey tournament.

Thats fitting, because Thrasher was known for going out of his way to make an ice rink on the lake, so childrenhad a place to play hockey anytime.