SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Two Fort Simpson teams narrowly missed advancing to the finals at the First Air Rec Hockey Tournament in Yellowknife.

Fort Simpson's Nogha played in the First Air Rec Hockey Tournament for the first time earlier this month. The team included Darren Hardisty, back row, from left, Bill Blyth, Kyle Christiansen, Calen Hardisty, Darnell Horassi, TJ Bradbury, Rylan Hardisty-Gillis, Byron Blyth and Dakota Burrill. In the front row, from left, are Sheldon McKay, Jarret Hardisty, Liam Hardisty, Jeff Cholette and Alex Roche. - photo courtesy of Stephanie Cudmore

Both Nogha and the Nahanni Inn Flyers competed in the tournament April 17 to 20. Nogha had a two-win, two-loss record in the round robin for the C division.

This was the first time Nogha had played in the First Air Tournament. The team was strongest in its first two games, said Jarret Hardisty, who played defense. On April 18, Nogha got the first goal against Diamond Glass but then fell behind 3-1. The team battled back to tie the game 3-3 and only lost after Diamond Glass scored with a minute left.

Their second game the next morning followed a similar pattern. Nogha got the first goal, but the Northwest Old Packers, who went on to win the division, pulled ahead 3-1. Nogha fought back to win 4-3 with Jeff Cholette scoring two of the four goals.

Nogha lost to Kingland 6-2 and were ready to play their last round robin game on Sunday. Going in, they already knew they wouldn't be one of the top two teams in the division advancing to the finals.

"We finished with a strong game at the end," Hardisty said.

The team won 4-1 against Top Knight. This was Nogha's third tournament of the season.

"I say we did very well," Hardisty said.

"We played really good hockey."

The team, which had 13 Fort Simpson players and one out of town pick-up, plans to return to the tournament annually.

In the A division, the Flyers had an even closer brush with the finals.

The Flyers lost their first game 5-1 versus Fuel Flo, but went on to beat Polar United 4-2 and Subway. That record put the Fort Simpson team in a three-way tie in its pool for first place, said Chris Stipdonk, one of the team members.

With only the top two teams advancing, it came down to goals for and against with the Flyers coming in third. Fuel Flo and Polar United advanced, with Polar United going on to win the division.

The Flyers included captain Owen Rowe, Stipdonk, Travis Hanna, Ryan Petrie and Nathan McPherson of Fort Simpson along with Michael and Kiel Krutko of Fort Providence, Chris Hewitt formerly of Fort Simpson and six out of town players.