We are excited to announce the Table Tennis coaches for Team NT at the 2026 Arctic Winter Games.
Neilson Vandell from Fort Providence will be attending his first Arctic Winter Games as a coach. Neilson began playing Table Tennis just 11 years ago and has since been instrumental in building the Fort Providence Table Tennis Club from the ground up. His commitment to youth, community, and sport development continues to make a lasting impact. In 2025, Neilson received the Coaches Award from the Indigenous Sport Circle and led the Fort Providence middle school team to a banner win at the NWT School Sports Championships. His journey reflects what is possible when passion, patience, and community come together.
Akiko Iwase from Yellowknife returns as a two-time Arctic Winter Games coach. At the 2024 Games in Alaska, athletes under her guidance earned one gold, one silver, and two bronze medals. Akiko is deeply involved with the Yellowknife Table Tennis Club and is known for her steady leadership, technical knowledge, and ability to bring out the best in her athletes on and off the table.
Together, Neilson and Akiko represent two strong pathways into the Games, community built and club built, united by a shared belief in athlete development, inclusion, and showing up with heart.
We are grateful for their commitment and excited to see them support our athletes as they prepare to represent the Northwest Territories at the 2026 Arctic Winter Games in Whitehorse.