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DEH GAH GOT'IE KOE/FORT PROVIDENCE
A team from Hay River has skated to victory in a second hockey tournament in the Deh Cho.

Elton Ruben, front, of the Fort Providence Bulls moves the puck away from Nathan Modeste of the Deline Warriors during a playoff game at the Kingland Ford Hockey Tournament in Fort Providence. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

The Hay River Eagle 88s won the Kingland Ford Hockey Tournament in Fort Providence on Feb. 12. Last month the team also claimed victory at the Fort Simpson Men's Recreational Hockey Tournament.

The finals in Fort Providence left the hometown crowd that filled the stands and lined the side of the rink vacillating between elation and despondency. The game pitted the Eagle 88s against the Fort Providence Bulls.

The Bulls were undefeated heading into the final, winning all four round-robin games and beating the Deline Warriors 10-3 to advance to the semi-finals.

A quick start

Both teams got off to a quick start to start the final game. Eagle 88s scored the first goal which Elton Ruben matched for the Bulls. A second goal by Michael Krutko put the Bulls in the lead but it was the first and last time during the game they'd hold the high ground.

In the second period, the Eagle 88s advanced the score 3-2 and Krutko tied it up 3-3. Tied going into the third, the Bulls matched two goals scored by Hay River, with goals by Cameron Sapp and Vince Kruszewski, but were unable to pull ahead. With just over two minutes left, the Eagle 88s scored to pull ahead 6-5. Despite thunderous encouragement from the crowd, the Bulls were unable to sink another goal.

"It was so exciting to go back and forth and a little stressful, too," said Andre Chabot, the Hay River captain. "We played hard and we never stopped."

Chabot said the team benefited from years of experience playing together.

"The guys know how to read each other on the ice," he said.

Chabot also offered his congratulations to the Bulls.

"They played a hell of a game," he said.

Michael Vandell, the Bull's captain, said he didn't feel ashamed losing to the Eagle 88s.

"They are a good team," he said.

Vandell said the competition between all five of the teams in the tournament was even and that during the final the game could have went either way. Vandell said the conditions on the rink were difficult because of the soft ice and that the Bulls had some bad puck bounces that favoured the Eagle 88s.

Both Chabot and Vandell thanked the Deline Warriors for making the trip to compete in the tournament. Later this month the Bulls plan to return the favour at Deline's four-on-four hockey tournament.

The Warriors finished fourth after losing to Nogha from Fort Simpson in the consolation finals.

During the game, Nogha took an early lead with goals by Travis Hanna, Chris Stipdonk and Bill Blyth, putting the score at 3-0 in the first period. In the second period, the Warriors fought back tying the score 4-4 going into the third.

Third period was tense

The third period was tense with an early goal by Stipdonk putting Nogha ahead 5-4. With three minutes left, the Warriors tied the game but a goal by Calen Hardisty with less than two minutes gave Nogha the win.

"It was a great tournament," said Darren Hardisty, Nogha's captain.

"It was really good hockey."

Hardisty said all of the Fort Simpson players skated hard and made solid shots and good passes. Everyone did their part during the games, he said.

As a new team, Hardisty said he felt good about finishing third. With more experience Nogha should do better next year, he said.

The fifth place team in the tournament was Digaa Storm from Fort Providence.

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