It will soon be time to head for the courts as the 2024 Laura Gauthier Memorial (LGM) volleyball tournament is set for May 2-5 at Rankin Inlet鈥檚 new arena.

The LGM launched in 2000 and has continued as an annual event open to the North, only missing one year due to Covid.

The LGM committee 鈥� currently comprising Toota Tatty, Reanna Johnston and John Ussak 鈥� is already looking ahead to big things to celebrate the tournament鈥檚 25th anniversary in 2025.

As of April 21, there were seven men鈥檚 and 12 women鈥檚 teams registered for this year鈥檚 LGM, with at least six teams from the Baffin expected and, hopefully, two from the Kitikmeot.

As with any tournament, Tatty said the LGM has had its ups and downs.

She said the sport seems to die down in popularity from time to time, which can lead to a low turnout of teams for the tournament.

鈥淟ately it鈥檚 been making a big comeback, especially with the tournament being hosted in the new arena for the first time this past year,鈥� said Tatty.

鈥淲e鈥檙e able to have two courts in the new arena, so I think that鈥檚 really helping to boost the attendance.

鈥淭here were lots of big contenders last year, so it was a lot of fun to watch every game, especially in the playoffs.鈥�

Johnston said moving to the new arena in 2023 was amazing for committee members.

She said it makes for one less building to take care of during the tournament and the hamlet arena staff are extremely supportive during the event.

鈥淭hey took on a lot of the responsibilities that we used to be solely responsible for when the tournament was held in the two schools,鈥� said Johnston.

鈥淪hutting down at the end of the tournament and cleaning it all up was lifted from the committee鈥檚 shoulders.

鈥淭he canteen running in the arena, as well, is a real convenience for a lot of the players. As far as spectators go, to be able to watch two games being played simultaneously was something positive that was mentioned a lot throughout the tournament.鈥�

Last year saw Iqaluit defeat Naujaat for the men鈥檚 championship, while Pangnirtung topped Iqaluit on the women鈥檚 side of the ledger.

Pangnirtung was, at one time, a steady competitor at the LGM, and 2023 marked the team鈥檚 victorious comeback after many years of not attending.

The costs associated with travel was the main culprit behind Pangnirtung鈥檚 prolonged absence from the event.

Naujaat and Team Hang and Bang from Rankin Inlet have been top rivals on the men鈥檚 side during the history of the LGM, while Rankin鈥檚 V Team and Team Fusion have often run into each other on the female side. Team Familia have also been strong contenders on the ladies鈥� side and captured the Aivilik tournament in Naujaat in April.

Tatty said the teams that haven鈥檛 participated in many years are starting to make a comeback, and this year鈥檚 tournament will be broadcast live for the first time.

She said the Pangnirtung women used to be regular attenders and Baker Lake appeared for the first time in 鈥渕any, many moons鈥� in 2023.

鈥淚t was the same thing last year with the Arviat men,鈥� said Tatty. 鈥淭hey hadn鈥檛 attended in many years and, this year, we even have an Arviat women鈥檚 team competing.

鈥淲e had a Naujaat ladies鈥� team compete last year for the very first time and they鈥檙e coming again this year. They did really well in their first tournament here.鈥�