05/14/2026
A few months ago, I stood on the frozen river in Hay River watching volunteers clear snow, scrape ice, move nets, and prepare rinks by hand for the Polar Pond Hockey tournament.
Today, I am incredibly honoured to share that my photo essay and story, “Puck Drop on the Pond,” was published by The Globe and Mail as part of their Underexposed series. This project was never just about Hockey. It was about community. About volunteers. About Northern traditions. About the joy of people coming together after a long winter.
Thank you to everyone in Hay River who welcomed me, shared stories, and trusted me to help tell a small piece of what makes this event so special. And thank you to The Globe and Mail editorial and visual team for giving Northern community stories a national platform.
Sometimes the most meaningful sport stories are not found in major arenas. Sometimes they are found on a frozen river in the Northwest Territories.
A few months ago, I stood on the frozen river in Old Town Hay River, Northwest Territories, watching volunteers scrape ice by hand. The sun reflected off the river.
