The Stanley Cup pleases fans in Kuujjuaq, Iqaluit

Hockey fans in Nunavut and Nunavik got a rare treat this weekend.

The Stanley Cup was on tour in the Arctic, along with a couple of former NHLers who have hoisted it.

Hockey's Holy Grail visited the village of Kuujjuaq, Que., briefly on Fridaybefore landing in Iqaluit later that day, in time to provide the backdrop for a charity hockey game.

FormerNHLersJohnLeClairand MartyMcSorleystepped behind the benchfor the game, which raised more than $16,000 for Iqaluit's food bank and women's shelter.

On Saturday morning, LeClair and McSorley laced up their skates and led minor hockey clinics and gave a pep talk to thecoaches.

It was the hockey stars'first time in the Arctic,and McSorley said there was no shortage of talent there.

"I still see a lot of ties with the hockey world," he said. "You've got guys up here that played in the East Coast Hockey League. When we played here yesterday, the level of hockey was high. These adults are now coaching these kids."

More than 500 fans came out to see the Lord Stanley's Mugwhile it was on display atIqaluit's Arctic Winter Games Arena.

In Kuujjuaq, almost half of the village's 2,300 people came out to see the cup and its entourage. The village evencancelled school so kids could go.