Brittenie Jefferd-Moore, known better in town by the nickname Bitsie, was one of only two girls in her age group playing hockey growing up.

鈥淚 remember having to get dressed in the women鈥檚 washroom in Tuk one year,鈥� recalls Jefferd-Moore, who often had to prepare herself for games in closets or storage rooms.

She joined the Inuvik Minor Hockey Association (IMHA) in high school after tiring of figure skating.

鈥淚t gave me a sense of accomplishment,鈥� she said about the sport. 鈥淏ack then it was a socialization thing with friends. It was a great outlet to go out in the community, have fun and do something you actually enjoy.鈥�

After leaving for school and returning home to Inuvik in 2015, Jefferd-Moore is now coaching the initiation level, five- and six-year-olds, in the IMHA.

鈥淭his year we have a really large group and she鈥檚 still willing to get in there and help out,鈥� said Marsha Branigan, secretary with the organization.

She doesn鈥檛 do it because she likes getting up early on weekend mornings.

鈥淚 love it because I enjoy teaching kids a skill and seeing the smiles on their faces,鈥� said Jefferd-Moore.

鈥淚 always love playing with kids. I grew up babysitting a bunch of the kids that I used to coach or coach now. In October they鈥檙e like little Bambis on ice who can鈥檛 really skate and then by the end of the season they鈥檙e skating, they鈥檙e happier, they're enjoying it and then they come back next year and they鈥檙e excited.鈥�

There are a lot more girls involved now, she added, even in the surrounding communities.

鈥淕etting five-year-olds to listen to you sometimes is the biggest obstacle,鈥� said Jefferd-Moore. 鈥淎s long as they leave the ice laughing and having fun in some shape or form, then I鈥檓 happy. Sometimes my plan goes out the window because I need to focus on just making sure they鈥檙e skating and having fun.鈥�

Branigan is happy to get her help.

鈥淚t鈥檚 really nice to see the kids that have gone through the system actually coming back and giving back to the association,鈥� said Branigan. 鈥淭his association is totally run by volunteers. It鈥檚 generally parents of kids who are involved, but Bitsie doesn鈥檛 have any kids and she鈥檚 putting some time and effort into the system for the young kids, so that鈥檚 really nice to see.鈥�