INUVIK
There is no doubt that these players were kicking it old-school at the East Three gym March 20 and 21.

Julia Carter rushes for the ball during the Beaufort-Delta Education Council Soccer Tournament March 21 at East Three school. Her team would go on to lose 5-2 in the playoffs. Shawn Giilck/NNSL photo

Approximately 120 players and 14 teams took part in the revived Beaufort-Delta Education Council Soccer Tournament at East Three over the weekend.

The E3 Clippers emerged as the champions in the adult division, while a team from Fort McPherson won top prize in the senior division. The East Three Junior Girls team took the title in the junior division.

Indoor soccer proved to be a thoroughly enjoyable diversion for everyone who participated, whether they won or lost.

Patrick March, a member of the "Not So Hot Spurs" team, was content with a 500 win-loss outcome.

"It's just a bunch of friends getting together and having a good time," he said.

The team lost in the playoffs, but it didn't sour their enjoyment.

"It did turn into a bit of a rugby game, but that's the way we play down east," March said with a wicked grin.

Many of the team members hadn't played soccer in some time, or had limited experience playing the indoor variety, which combines an element of squash in that certain sections of the walls are in play.

"We play this because there are no outdoor fields here, and there's eight months of winter," March said.

The Spurs were a bit of a stacked team, featuring some of the best multi-sport athletes in Inuvik.

March's teammate Brandon Johnston said, "I haven't played soccer in at least 10 years. I'm going to feel this tomorrow, that's for sure."

"We're finished now, and I think that's a good thing," he added with a wink.

"It's been a lot of fun to play hard. I'd do it again."

Jill Nugent played a spectacular game in goal despite the loss. At one point she threw herself in front of a blistering point-blank shot that came off a rebound and stoned the shooter.

"I just kind of threw myself at it and hoped for the best," she laughed.

"It worked out really well."

"Indoor soccer is a lot tougher than outdoor," Nugent said "There's not as much space, and there's a lot of bodies in a small area. It's very fast-paced."

Eric Church, who was playing on the East Three Secondary Staff team, said "it's a great tournament with a lot of excellent teams."

The team was going into a sudden death playoff game, and he said "I hope we find the courage and effort to pull through."

Barruch Watters, another player on the staff team, said "we get to play a lot of games, since there are five games in the round robin, and it's a fast-paced game, and you get spend a lot of time with the ball."

Colin Pybus, who helped to organize the tournament, said he was very happy with the way the everything was going.

"So far so good, and there's been a lot of good play so far. We have 14 teams team from Inuvik, Tuk and McPherson, plus we had some players from Vancouver with one team."

The tournament is in part a tune-up for the upcoming Super Soccer event in Yellowknife for the school teams, but it's also a reflection of how popular indoor soccer has become in Inuvik and the surrounding region.

There's a twice-weekly league that plays in Inuvik, and regularly attracts more than 20 players a night.