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INUVIK - Before last weekend, three of the last six Oil and Gas Bonspiels had hosted Hall of Famer Lanny McDonald.

Now make that four out of seven.

Northwind does its best to keep pace with Tetlit Petroleum as Frank Edwards Jr. and Kim Wainman sweep their hearts out. - Andrew Rankin/NNSL photo

He's become a familiar face drawn to a tournament that's as much about catching up with old friends as it is about beating them.

"It's a great tournament," he said. "It's nice to be reunited with everyone."

Asked whether he enjoys Inuvik, his response is instantaneous.

"You gotta be kidding me," he said. "These are great people up here. I've brought my son up a few years. It gives you an understanding of what the North is truly like ... I'm sure I'll keep coming back."

A member of the Baker Hughes oil and gas services company, the Calgary Flames' legend joined 20 other teams from the local area as well as from Alberta.

The goal is to reunite curling buffs in the industry, mixing a bit of business with pleasure. With games scheduled morning, noon and night, and a player banquet in between, it was all about just getting out, mingling and having fun.

On Sunday, three divisional champs were crowned. A few hours before that, Lanny left his team for business back home.

Diane Baxter's team of Richard Gordon, Danny Gordon and Melba Mitchell didn't win any prizes. But the Inuvik resident didn't mind. She had fun and was pleased with her team's performance.

"You get to put in a lot of games and a lot of hours," she said with a laugh. "We curled pretty good and there was some good competition.

"But it's a really fun bonspiel. So many people from different places and we're all bonspieling - that's why we come here."

She was also quick to thank Richard Gordon for ensuring the ice was kept top-notch throughout the weekend.

Fellow Inuvik resident Larry Greenland teamed up with Fort McPherson squad Tetlit Petroleum. The team of William Charlie, Jackie Pascal and Bella Charlie ended up winning their division by edging Inuvik's Northwind team in Sunday evening's championship game.

Greenland said he was impressed by his teammates' performance and overall had a great time.

Nick Saturnino, tournament co-ordinator, said he was both pleased with how the bonspiel unfolded and the fact that his team came second in its division.

Because of the slumping economy, the tournament featured eight teams fewer than usual. But, he said, by all accounts most got their money's worth.

"Everyone had a good time that I know of," he said. "That was the whole goal."