Soccer success exceeds expectations
Second-annual tournament brings players across NWT together
April Hudson
Northern News Services
Thursday, December 3, 2015
ACHO DENE KOE/FORT LIARD
Seventeen teams from seven communities battled each other in Fort Liard during the hamlet's second annual soccer tournament on Nov. 28 and 29.
The Fort Resolution players were "unstoppable," according to Fort Liard recreation co-ordinator Roslyn Firth. Here, Fort Resolution's U16 team stands for a photo. Ethan McKay, back left, stands with Greg Villeneuve, Dion Norn, Johnny Bailey, Desiree Mandeville. In front are Isaac Simon and Jacob Bocher. - photo courtesy of Roslyn Firth
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Behchoko, Ndilo, Whati, Fort Providence, Fort Simpson and Fort Resolution players joined teams from Fort Liard for the event.
"It went super well. It couldn't have been better," said hamlet recreation co-ordinator Roslyn Firth.
Participants played in three age categories -- U14, U16 and U19.
Fort Liard's U14 team placed first in their age category, followed by N'dilo and Fort Providence.
In U16, Fort Resolution beat N'dilo and Fort Simpson, with Fort Resolution also taking U19 ahead of Fort Liard and Behchoko.
"Fort Resolution is unbeatable. They're so good," Firth said.
Turnout for the tournament trounced last year's event with nearly double the amount of teams for an event Firth describes as near-perfect.
"I can't think of one thing that could have gone any better. It was really inspiring to see everybody playing their absolute best and being good sports about it while they were doing it," she said. "The participants were all extremely well-behaved."
She added that the hamlet succeeded in "ironing out the bugs" experienced last year, when the first annual tournament took place.
New Nahendeh MLA Shane Thompson and his son Gordon travelled to the hamlet to referee the tournament.
"It was fantastic to have them here, because they're both so experienced out on the floor," Firth said.
Travel delays didn't stop tournament
The tournament, originally scheduled to begin Nov. 27, had some delays due to travel but ended on time.
With ferries out for the season and ice roads not yet completed, Fort Simpson teams were forced to fly in and ended up being delayed.
On top of that, a bus bringing down players from other communities did not arrive until late on Nov. 27.
"The schedule was a bit wonky, but in the end it all worked out perfectly. I think by Sunday we were only 20 minutes behind schedule," Firth said. "It's a huge undertaking for all the chaperones and coaches who came from so far away, because it's such a long trip."
