Objective of the Game

This version of the game differed from the Gwich'in style of play in that goals were not used and a score was not kept. The game was organized as a chase in which one player tried to escape from a group of pursuing opponents, all the while handling the puck.

Equipment

1. The Shinny stick is about 1.2 m long, with one end flattened out and the other shaped like a handle.
2. It is said that the puck was made from frozen frog excrement which can be found frozen into the shape of a small ball.

Playing Area

• Any open, fairly flat stretch of river or lake ice or of well-packed snow can be used as a Shinny field.

Teams and Players

• This can be a very rough game. It is only played by older boys and men.
• The player who is 'it' (who controls the puck) plays against everybody else.
• There are no teams; whoever wants to join the game can do so at any point.

How to Play

Preparation

• If a suitable playing area can be found, no preparations are required.

Starting Position and Movement

• The players form a circle, the distance between players being about 2 to 3 m.
• One player strikes the puck, trying to dribble it out of the circle on the opposite side. The opponent who is closest to the point where he tries to break through, acts as a defender and attempts to block him.
• When the defender successfully blocks the attempt, it is his turn to try and break out of the circle.
• When a player succeeds in breaking out of the circle, he takes off as fast as he can, all the while handling the puck. Everybody takes off after him, trying to take the puck away from him.

End of Competition

• This game does not have winners and losers. It continues while there are enough players.

Safety Considerations

Spectators should be positioned to the sides of the play and must not enter the play area.