SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Make it two in a row for the Nahanni Inn Flyers.

The Fort Simpson hockey team defended its A division title at the First Air Tournament in Yellowknife last weekend, defeating rival Ace Enterprises 5-2 in the final on April 24.

Nahanni Inn Flyers players, from left, James Williams, Tim Gordon and Mickey Ipana celebrate during the Flyers repeat run as A division champions at the First Air Tournament, held in Yellowknife from April 21 to 24. - James McCarthy/NNSL photo

Owen Rowe's voice was raspy Monday evening following the eventful weekend.

While the team's captain and general manager said the group didn't feel any added pressure as defending champions, he was happy to take the title back to Fort Simpson.

"You want to repeat, for sure," he said.

In all, 40 teams from across the Northwest Territories and Nunavut landed in the capital for the tournament, which took hold of the city from April 21 to 24.

The Flyers were fortunate to get a chance to defend its title as an early round robin loss to Yellowknife's Subway Thrashers almost came back to haunt them. "We got away from our game," said Rowe. "We just quit skating and they played excellently."

The Flyers were granted a second life though when the tiebreaker rules favoured them. After finishing in a three-way tie for first place with only the top two teams moving on, the tiebreaker went to head-to-head match-ups between the deadlocked teams. When that didn't determine who would go on, the next category was goals scored, which favoured the Flyers.

As a result, they advanced to the playoffs and, from there, the Flyers didn't fool around, defeating the Weaver and Devore Marauders 3-1 to face Ace Enterprises in the final.

"Ace was the same team we played in the finals (last year,)" said Rowe. "They are a real good team."

Locked in a tight, one-goal affair heading into the third period, the Flyers blew the game open on the back of tournament MVP Keegan Hnatiw, a 16-year-old Yellowknife pick-up.

"He got a goal on four-on-four and then about 30 seconds later, he got one shorthanded," said Rowe. The Flyers added another goal quickly to put the game out of reach.

"The biggest thing that we had was great goaltending and we have had that for the last three years. We also had exceptional speed. We were in on their defense before they could set up in their zone," he said.

"Any of the eight teams (in our division) could have won," said Rowe. "The parity has just gotten so much better in all of the divisions."

The Flyers picked up three new players this year, since one player was injured before the tournament and another had school commitments.

"It was unbelievable how everyone came together," said Rowe.

Rowe has missed only two or three First Air tournaments in the last 30 years. He said Fort Simpson has cemented its reputation as a hockey haven.

"It probably took about 20 years to get some respect," he said.

Rowe estimated the large crowd at the Ed Jeske Arena Sunday was probably 60 per cent in support of his team. He could count on at least another dozen Fort Simpson hockey players like Chris Hewitt to cheer the team on.

"It was an exciting game to watch," said Hewitt, who took Fort Simpson's Sub-Arctic Eagles to the tournament.

The Eagles made it to the semi-finals in the E division, but lost to Yellowknife's JTFN 5-1 in the playoffs.

"We wanted to play in the semi-finals and we did it," said Hewitt.

The Sub-Arctic Eagles' roster, which included both Jim and Jerry Antoine, was comprised of minor hockey players, rec league players and old timers.

Hewitt said goaltender Nathan McPherson had a great tournament and he also gave credit to his team's minor hockey players - Steven Thompson, Adrian Tremblay and Rylan Hardisty-Gillis.

"I think they will be even better prepared to play again next season," he said.

"It was a great weekend," said Hewitt. "We are very proud of our hockey teams here in Fort Simpson. It was a great way to end our hockey season."

The Fort Providence Bulls also competed in the tournament, losing all three of their A division round robin games.

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