Max Joy “grateful and excited” to carry Nunavut flag for Canada Winter Games opening ceremony

The 2019 Canada Winter Games are officially underway in Red Deer, Alta., with the opening ceremony having taken place the evening of Feb. 15.

Nunavut joined in with the 12 other provinces and territories in marching on the colours into the Red Deer Centrium. The flag bearer for Nunavut this year was Max Joy of Iqaluit, captain of the inaugural boys hockey entry.

Joy said he couldn't have been more excited to have been carrying the flag.

“It's such an incredible honour to get to hold that flag and walk it in,” he said. “I'm so grateful because I never thought I would get the opportunity to do this.”
Joy was notified about being chosen after his parents received an e-mail from Mariele dePeuter, Team Nunavut's chef de mission, shortly before the Games began.

Nunavut doesn't get going in boys hockey until Sunday when they take on Yukon at 9 a.m. MST and the feeling still hasn't really sunk in for Joy and the rest of the team yet, he said.
“It's so incredible the amount of work that our coaches have done to make this possible,” he said. “There were a few rumours going around that a team was going to be formed but now we're here and it's real. It's incredible.”

The team had a three-day camp in Ottawa, which Joy described as a way for the team to get re-acquainted with each other, before taking off for Red Deer on Feb. 14 and Joy said the energy of the whole experience is in the air.

When the team hits the ice, however, the plan is to take things one shift at a time – literally.

“The goal for us is to win shifts,” he said. “We're not looking to win a period or a game right off the bat. We want to win 60 shifts in 60 minutes, if we can. If we win enough shifts, then we'll start looking at winning a period, then winning games. It's small steps for us.”

This will be the first and only time Joy and his teammates will get the chance to play hockey at the Games and he said it's all about enjoying the experience.

“It's the first time for all of us so we're going to go out and enjoy it and soak it all up,” he said. “If we're up 10 or down by 10, it's all about having a good time and being as confident as we can be.”
That confidence extended to walking out with the flag – Joy wasn't worried about messing up at all.

“I had a good group of people with me and they'd have made sure nothing happened, no trip-ups or anything like that,” he said.

Team Nunavut at the Canada Winter Games

Here is the full roster of athletes, coaches and mission staff that are in Red Deer for the 2019 Canada Winter Games:

Mariele dePeuter, Baker Lake, Mission Staff

Jeff Seeteenak, Baker Lake, Mission Staff

Dave Penney, Baker Lake, Mission Staff

Kyle Mullins, Chesterfield Inlet, Hockey

Malcolm Ranta, Clyde River, Mission Staff

Chase Harron, Coral Harbour, Hockey

Owen Angootealuk, Coral Harbour, Hockey

Kyshton Kalai, Coral Harbour, Table Tennis

Derrick Akeeagok, Grise Fiord, Badminton

David Joy, Iqaluit, Hockey

Keelan Buckler, Iqaluit, Hockey

Felix Choquette, Iqaluit, Hockey

Bradley Nowdlak-Fraser, Iqaluit, Hockey

Tiivi Jr. Ipeelie-Qiatsuik, Iqaluit, Hockey

Nahshon Thomas, Iqaluit, Hockey

Josie Kilabuk-Cote, Iqaluit, Hockey

Ryan Eegeesiak-MacIntosh, Iqaluit, Hockey

Kaj Magnus Sandbakken, Iqaluit, Hockey

Maxwell Joy, Iqaluit, Hockey

Brayden Uluqsi, Iqaluit, Hockey

Inuuki Burke, Iqaluit, Hockey

Deion Ipirq-Pearce, Iqaluit, Hockey

Wanda Joy, Iqaluit, Hockey

Rebecca Biggers, Iqaluit, Hockey

Kyle St. Laurent, Iqaluit, Speedskating

Charlene Lavallee, Iqaluit, Speedskating

Hayden Hickey, Iqaluit, Speedskating

Alex Hejnowicz, Iqaluit, Speedskating

Olivia Ashley, Iqaluit, Speedskating

Emma Carpenter, Iqaluit, Speedskating

Taryn Lavallee, Iqaluit, Speedskating

Akutaq Williamson Bathory, Iqaluit, Speedskating

Marie-Claude Grenier, Iqaluit, Judo

Gianni Rocco Canil, Iqaluit, Judo

Amber Aglukark, Iqaluit, Badminton

Shawna Kyak, Iqaluit, Badminton

Jamie Savikataq, Iqaluit, Mission Staff

Mandy Hickey, Iqaluit, Mission Staff

Lee Hodgers, Iqaluit, Mission Staff

Gary Wong, Iqaluit, Mission Staff

Sonja Lonsdale, Iqaluit, Mission Staff

Saumik Darehshoripour, Iqaluit, Aboriginal Apprentice Coaching Program (badminton)

Attila Csaba, Kugluktuk, Table Tennis

Maria Csaba, Kugluktuk, Table Tennis

Daniel Nipatantiak, Kugluktuk, Table Tennis

Caleb Bolt, Kugluktuk, Table Tennis

Kimberly Hokanak Kugluktuk Table Tennis

Mackenzie Demerah, Kugluktuk, Table Tennis

Layla Demerah, Kugluktuk, Table Tennis

Jane Nakashuk, Pangnirtung, Badminton

Megan Kilabuk, Pangnirtiung, Badminton

Leo Kaludjak, Rankin Inlet, Hockey

Luke Kusugak, Rankin Inlet, Hockey

Xzavior Kubluitok, Rankin Inlet, Hockey

Isreal Maktar, Rankin Inlet, Hockey

Lisa Kresky, Rankin Inlet, Women in Coaching (Gymnastics)

Mina Mannuk, Sanikiluaq, Badminton

Sappa Cookie, Sanikiluaq, Badminton

Davidee Kudluarok, Sanikiluaq, Badminton

Joanasie Daryle Iqaluq, Sanikiluaq, Badminton

Mike Kavik, Sanikiluaq, Badminton

Calvin Holoboff, Vancouver, Badminton

Garren Voisey, Whale Cove, Hockey

Brandon Biggers, Iqaluit, Hockey

Conor Fudge, Nova Scotia, Hockey