Monthly Archives:August 2026

The journey to the 2027 Canada Winter Games in Québec City starts now!

Registration is officially open for athletes wishing to participate in the Team NT Table Tennis Canada Winter Games Trials. If you are eligible and interested in representing the Northwest Territories, we encourage you to register today.

Step 1: Complete the online registration form: https://forms.gle/Xtobj65jwB9RD36s9

Step 2: Download the Registration Confirmation form, have it signed by the athlete and, if under 18 years of age, by a parent or guardian, and email it to info@tabletennisnorth.ca to complete your registration: https://tabletennisnorth.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Registration-Confirmation.pdf

The registration deadline is Friday, November 6, 2026.

We look forward to supporting athletes throughout the selection process as we prepare for the 2027 Canada Winter Games. Good luck to everyone beginning their Team NT journey!

It all comes down to this. The 2026 Territorial Table Tennis Championships are set for November 14–15, 2026 at Weledeh School in Yellowknife, and it is time to crown the best in the North!

Athletes from across the Northwest Territories will gather to compete for the ultimate title in a weekend filled with energy, excitement, and Northern pride. Whether you are stepping up to the table for the first time or returning to defend your title, this is your moment.

Venue: Weledeh School, Yellowknife

Championship Schedule
November 14 – 6:00 PM | Open Doubles
November 15 – 10:00 AM | Youth Singles (U18) – Canada Games trials tournament
November 15 – 1:00 PM | Open Singles

This championship marks the final event of the season and a celebration of the skill, sportsmanship, and growth of our NWT Table Tennis community.

Want to Play?
Participation requires a Table Tennis North membership ($11 per person).
Payments can be sent by e-transfer to info@tabletennisnorth.ca.

Register here: https://forms.gle/dW8G8iT1HtgbGgBA8
Registration deadline: November 11, 2026

Let’s bring the passion, precision, and spirit of competition to Yellowknife and finish the season in style as we crown the 2026 Territorial Champions!

Table Tennis North is excited to begin the journey toward the 2027 Canada Winter Games in Québec City, Québec.

Representing Team NT is about much more than competing. It is an opportunity to challenge yourself, develop new skills, build lifelong friendships, and proudly represent your community and the Northwest Territories on the national stage. Team NT is built on respect, teamwork, leadership, and a commitment to continuous learning.

Who Can Apply?

We encourage athletes to participate in the Team NT selection process if they:

• Meet the Canada Winter Games age eligibility requirements.
• Meet Team NT residency requirements.
• Are members in good standing with Table Tennis North.
• Are committed to training, learning, and representing the Northwest Territories with pride and integrity.

Athlete Selection Process

Table Tennis North is committed to a fair, transparent, objective, and consistent athlete selection process.

Athletes earn points throughout the selection period using published competition results and participation in approved athlete development activities. The selection process does not include coach rankings, interviews, or discretionary scoring.

The selection process includes:

• NWT School Table Tennis Championships
• NWT Territorial Championships
• Canada Winter Games Trial Tournament #1
• Canada Winter Games Trial Tournament #2
• Athlete Development Participation

Athlete Development

Preparing for the Canada Winter Games involves much more than competition. Throughout the selection period, athletes will have opportunities to participate in development activities such as:

• Aerobic Table Tennis
• Virtual Team NT learning sessions
• Athlete mentorship
• Regional and territorial training camps
• Mental performance workshops
• Nutrition workshops
• Rules and officiating education
• Safe Sport education

Team NT Resources

Before participating in the selection process, athletes and parents are encouraged to review the resources available on our Canada Winter Games webpage.

These include:

• Team NT Table Tennis Handbook
• Team NT Table Tennis Athlete Selection Policy
• Team NT Table Tennis Participation Agreement
• Team NT Table Tennis Selection Appeals Policy

These documents outline the selection process, athlete expectations, Safe Sport commitments, travel, communication, and the responsibilities of athletes and parents throughout the Team NT program.

Preparing for Team NT

Representing Team NT means committing to more than improving your Table Tennis skills.

Athletes are expected to:

• Represent the Northwest Territories with pride.
• Support teammates and contribute to a positive team environment.
• Demonstrate respect, integrity, and good sportsmanship.
• Continue learning both on and off the table.
• Help create a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment for everyone. Team NT Table Tennis Handbook.pdfPDF

Questions?

If you have questions about the Team NT athlete selection process, please contact: info@tabletennisnorth.ca

We look forward to supporting every athlete throughout the selection process and celebrating the growth, learning, and experiences that come with representing Team NT.

Your Journey Starts Here

Being selected to Team NT is not the finish line. It is the beginning of an exciting journey.

Whether your goal is to compete at the Canada Winter Games, continue to future national championships, become a coach or official, or inspire the next generation of northern athletes, Team NT is about helping you grow as both an athlete and a person.

We cannot wait to see where your journey takes you. Good luck to everyone working toward Team NT for the 2027 Canada Winter Games!

For athletes from the Northwest Territories, competing at the Canadian Senior & Junior Table Tennis Championships is about much more than results. It is about representing our communities, embracing new experiences, and discovering what is possible when we challenge ourselves on the national stage.

This year’s championships in Winnipeg provided all of that, and more.

From the opening serve to the final match, Team NT demonstrated that our greatest strength isn’t measured only in medals. It is found in the way we support one another, celebrate each other’s successes, and continue learning together.

Athletes competed against some of Canada’s strongest players, coaches worked tirelessly behind the barriers, teammates cheered for one another between matches, and every conversation with athletes, officials, and volunteers became another opportunity to grow.

The championships also produced a historic milestone, as Akiko Iwase became the first athlete from Canada’s three territories to win a medal at the Canadian Table Tennis Championships, capturing silver in the Women’s Over 40 Singles. It is a moment that will inspire northern athletes for years to come.

Yet the story of Team NT goes beyond history.

Every athlete returned home with something valuable: greater confidence, new friendships, a deeper understanding of the game, and motivation for the next training session.

As coaches, one of the greatest rewards is seeing athletes apply what they have been practicing. For most that means winning a match. For us it means winning a single point because they committed to executing the right technique or making the correct tactical decision. Those moments are victories.

Table Tennis North continues to build a culture where athletes encourage one another, coaches invest in people before results, and everyone contributes to the success of the team. That culture was visible throughout the week in Winnipeg.

A reflection from Table Tennis North’s Executive Director Thorsten:

“One of the things I love most is seeing the North represented on the national stage. We may come from small communities, but we bring a culture of giving, supporting one another, and working together. Most importantly, we show up and give our very best.

Of course celebrating the wins and the medals is important, but what excites me even more is watching athletes execute what they’ve learned, winning a point because they trusted the technique they practiced or the tactic they prepared for. Those moments tell me that learning is becoming performance.

When every athlete leaves a championship having learned something new, experienced something meaningful, and become a little better than when they arrived, that’s a successful championship. Those are the victories that continue long after the medals are awarded.”

As Team NT returns home, the focus shifts from reflecting on this championship to preparing for the next one. The journey continues, and with every tournament, clinic, and practice session, northern Table Tennis grows a little stronger.

Thank you to our athletes, coaches, families, supporters, volunteers, and everyone who made this incredible week possible. Thank you, Team NT, for making the North proud.

Team Northwest Territories continues to make history at the 2026 Canadian Junior Table Tennis Championships.

After earning the program’s first-ever team victory over a province in the U15 Boys Team Event last year, Team NT has done it again. This time, Kathleen Cai, partnering with Joanna Raj of New Brunswick, defeated Prince Edward Island in the U19 Girls Team Competition, securing a 7th-place finish in Canada.

The achievement marks another significant milestone for Table Tennis in the Northwest Territories and highlights the continued growth of the program on the national stage.

For Kathleen, the first two days of the championships have been filled with valuable experience. She competed in four team matches and four singles matches across the U15 Girls Singles, U17 Girls Singles, and U19 Girls Team Event, gaining invaluable experience against some of Canada’s top junior athletes.

“Being at the Canadian Championships and representing Team NT is a surreal experience. There’s lots of pressure, but it all adds to the excitement. Coming from a smaller place with fewer resources, it feels like I can show how someone from a smaller community can still compete and play a rare sport like table tennis.

Winning against a province is an experience I will never forget. We fought hard together in the team event, and being on a closely knit team from two smaller provinces truly added to the pride I already feel. I am sooo incredibly proud of our win, and even prouder to be representing Team NT! Gooo NT!!!!”

— Kathleen Cai

For Team NT, the result is about much more than a single victory. It reflects years of dedication, perseverance, and athlete development.

As a three-time Arctic Winter Games athlete, Kathleen continues to grow as both a player and a leader. Watching her confidence, resilience, and love for the sport flourish over the years has been incredibly rewarding, and this historic achievement is another exciting chapter in her journey.

Congratulations, Kathleen, Joanna, and Team NT! The North is proud of you.

FORT PROVIDENCE / WINNIPEG – Table Tennis North is celebrating a historic milestone after Akiko Iwase became the first athlete from the Northwest Territories to win a medal at the Canadian Table Tennis Championships, capturing silver in the Women’s Over 40 Singles event.

The achievement marks a defining moment for table tennis in the Northwest Territories and is a testament to years of dedication, perseverance, and the growing strength of the sport across the territory.

What makes Akiko’s accomplishment even more remarkable is the path she took to the podium. After narrowly losing her opening match 3-2, it would have been easy to let disappointment take over. Instead, she responded with determination, winning every match that followed to guarantee herself a place on the podium before advancing all the way to the championship final.

The silver medal is historic, but it tells only part of the story.

Throughout the championships, Akiko embraced every opportunity to challenge herself, competing not only in the Women’s Over 40 Singles, but also in the Open Women’s Singles and Mixed Doubles events. Every match added to her confidence and experience against some of Canada’s top players while proudly representing the Northwest Territories.

“I would like to thank Thorsten the most for his advice and support at matches. I now truly see the impact of coaching on athletes from an athlete’s point of view, and hopefully I can give back to athletes in the same way.”

“I didn’t realize how much I had missed the high energy of a competition. It brought me right back to my days as a competitive player.”

“Being surrounded by people—athletes, coaches, officials, volunteers, and supporters—all united by one sport creates an instant sense of connection. It’s something truly special.”

“I had the chance to talk with officials, coaches, and athletes of all ages, and it was such a great experience. I don’t regret coming to Nationals with such wonderful teammates this year. It was an unforgettable weekend.”

The Northwest Territories team included athletes from across the territory, supported by coaches and volunteers who continue to build opportunities for athletes to compete on the national stage.

Darren Woodland of the Yellowknife Table Tennis Club reflected on the team’s performance:

“We trained really hard these past few months and it really showed in the hard played matches. We saw great rallies and some really nice shots against skilled competition. For Team NT the weekend was capped off with a silver medal by Akiko Iwase in Women’s Singles Over 40. Way to go, Aki.”

“NT’s play continues with Kathleen Cai competing in the U15 and U17 events. Go Kathleen!”

“Training will start up again at the Yellowknife Table Tennis Club in September. Looking forward to having more great NT representation at the Canadian Table Tennis Championships in Moncton in 2027. This time with even more wins.”

“Way to go Team NT!”

While Akiko’s silver medal made history, perhaps the greatest achievement was the confidence she built throughout the tournament. From recovering after a difficult opening match to competing fearlessly in multiple events, she demonstrated resilience, determination, and a willingness to embrace every opportunity to learn and grow.

Her success is a milestone not only for herself, but for every athlete in the Northwest Territories. It shows that with commitment, preparation, and support, northern athletes can compete with—and succeed against—the very best in Canada.

Congratulations, Akiko, on making history and inspiring the next generation of table tennis players across the Northwest Territories. Your silver medal is more than a podium finish—it is the beginning of a new chapter for our sport.

Table Tennis North is proud to recognize Darren Woodland as the recipient of the 2026 Spirit of Sport Award, celebrating his outstanding commitment to the growth of table tennis in the Northwest Territories.

The Spirit of Sport Award recognizes individuals who embody sportsmanship, dedication, volunteerism, and a passion for growing the game. Darren has become an integral part of the Yellowknife Table Tennis Club, always willing to lend a hand, encourage new players, and help create a welcoming environment where everyone feels included.

Whether assisting during club nights, supporting tournaments, or simply sharing his enthusiasm for the sport, Darren has demonstrated that building a strong table tennis community is about much more than winning matches. His positive attitude, willingness to help others, and genuine enjoyment of the game make him a role model for players of all ages.

This year, Darren also represented the Northwest Territories at the 2026 Arctic Winter Games as a table tennis official. Stepping into an officiating role allowed him to experience another side of the sport while continuing to give back to the athletes and the game he enjoys so much.

“Darren reminds us that sport is about community as much as competition,” said Table Tennis North Executive Director Thorsten Gohl. “He is always ready to help, always encouraging others, and always doing it with a smile. His willingness to support players, volunteer his time, and even step into officiating shows the kind of leadership that helps our sport continue to grow.”

Congratulations, Darren, and thank you for everything you do for table tennis in the Northwest Territories. Your passion, generosity, and commitment truly reflect the Spirit of Sport. 

Table Tennis North is now accepting applications for Team Staff positions for the 2027 Canada Winter Games in Québec City, Québec.

The Canada Winter Games are Canada’s premier multi-sport event for developing young athletes and coaches. We are looking for passionate, knowledgeable, and athlete-centred individuals who are committed to helping Team NT athletes succeed both on and off the table.

Available Positions

Applications are currently being accepted for:

• Head Coach
• Assistant Coach / Manager

As outlined in the Canada Winter Games Technical Package, Team NT may register either one coach and one manager or two coaches.

Who Should Apply?

We encourage applications from individuals who:

• Are passionate about developing athletes.
• Demonstrate strong leadership and communication skills.
• Foster a safe, inclusive, and positive team environment.
• Support long-term athlete development.
• Are committed to representing the Northwest Territories with professionalism and integrity.

Applicants should review the coach certification requirements outlined in the Canada Winter Games Technical Package and the Team NT Table Tennis Staff Selection Policy.

Selection Process

Table Tennis North is committed to a fair, transparent, and independent selection process.

Applications will be reviewed by an independent Selection Committee using the published evaluation criteria:

• NCCP Certification and Coach Education, 40%
• Coaching Experience, 20%
• Athlete Development, 20%
• Communication and Leadership, 10%
• Commitment to the Team NT Table Tennis Program, 10%

Team NT Resources

Before applying, prospective coaches are encouraged to review the following documents available on our Canada Winter Games webpage:

• Team NT Table Tennis Handbook
• Team NT Table Tennis Staff Selection Policy
• Team NT Table Tennis Staff Evaluation Score Sheet
• Team NT Table Tennis Staff Agreement
• Team NT Table Tennis Selection Appeals Policy

These resources outline the expectations, responsibilities, and selection process for Team NT staff.

How to Apply

Complete the online Team Staff Application Form: https://forms.gle/EQPTwk8a1UZKVX7r8

Applicants should be prepared to provide:

• Contact information
• Coaching experience
• NCCP certification
• Relevant coaching and leadership experience
• References
• A brief statement outlining why they are interested in joining Team NT Table Tennis

Here is some more information about Team NT at the Canada Games, and if you have any questions about the application process, please contact: info@tabletennisnorth.ca

Application Deadline: July 31, 2026

Help Shape the Future of Team NT

Coaching Team NT is about more than preparing athletes for competition. It is an opportunity to inspire young people, create memorable experiences, and help build the future of table tennis in the Northwest Territories.

If you are ready to make a positive impact on the next generation of Team NT athletes, we encourage you to apply. We look forward to welcoming passionate coaches who share our commitment to excellence, inclusion, and Play for Life. 

The official draws have been released for the 2026 Canadian Junior Table Tennis Championships, and Team NT’s Kathleen Cai is ready to represent the Northwest Territories on the national stage in Winnipeg, Manitoba, from July 19 to 23.

Kathleen will compete in three events, taking on some of Canada’s top young athletes while continuing to build valuable national championship experience.

In the Girls Under 19 Team event, Kathleen will join forces with Joanna Raj (New Brunswick) as part of a combined New Brunswick/Northwest Territories team. The partnership highlights the collaborative spirit of Canadian table tennis, giving athletes from smaller provinces and territories the opportunity to compete in the team competition. Team NB/NT has been drawn into Group D, where they will face Manitoba, Quebec, Saskatchewan in the round robin. Kathleen and her teammates will be looking to advance to the championship bracket with strong performances against three talented provincial teams.

In Girls Under 17 Singles, Kathleen has been drawn into Group E, where she will face:

• Sophie Coros (Quebec)
• Sophia Ziqing Wang (Ontario)
• Mia Chen (Alberta)

The top athlete from the group will advance directly to the main draw.

In Girls Under 15 Singles, Kathleen will compete in Group D against:

• Zhang Sophia (Ontario)
• Amanda Zhu (British Columbia)
• Ava Yau Shum Kuo (Manitoba)

The top two athletes from each group will advance to the main draw.

Representing Team NT at a national championship is an achievement that reflects Kathleen’s hard work, dedication, and commitment to the sport. Competing in multiple age categories, along with the Under 19 Team event, will provide valuable experience as she continues her development against some of Canada’s best young players.

Everyone at Table Tennis North wishes Kathleen the very best of luck at the 2026 Canadian Junior Championships. We look forward to cheering her on throughout the week and watching her proudly represent the Northwest Territories on the national stage.

Good luck, Kathleen!!!