Nunavut hockey prodigy Atiqtalaaq Uuttuvak nets gold at Czech tournament

A young, up-and-coming Inuk hockey player has won gold at the Warrior Elite Series Europe tournament in the Czech Republic.

Nine-year-old Atiqtalaaq Uuttuvak, who made headlines last month after being compared to New Jersey Devils forward Jordin Tootoo, raised more than $6,000 with his family to make the trip to Prague.

"Q," as he's known in the hockey world, tallied a single goal in the tournament, only15 seconds into the game against another Canadian team. But the youngster from Pond Inletwho now lives in Ottawa, where he's heading into Grade 5had people talking and measured up well with his teammates some of whom were a foot taller.

"He did amazing. I was very proud of him," Uuttuvak's mother, Anita said. "It was known that he was a smaller and younger player, and it was a great way for him to network and get his name out there."

Took a few hits

The four-foot-seven Qgot rocked with a few hits throughout the weekend, at one point needing help off the ice, and his mother said the opposing coaches were encouraging open-ice hits bodychecking at the 11- and 12-year-old peewee level was banned by Hockey Canada in 2013.

Still, it was great a learning experience playing with kids both older and bigger than him, his mother said.

"His focus on this tournament wasn't to score goals, but to pass," Anita said. "He had some amazing passes where even some other parents were complimenting him, and they felt comfortable having him on the ice, even though he's younger, because of his passing. So I'm glad he tried to strengthen the other part of his game."

Qhas already been invited back to play tournaments in Norway and Sweden next summer. Until then, he's set to try out to play for the Gloucester Rangers competitive team in Ottawa this winter.