Yellowknife (Jun 21/06) - It was close. But unfortunately for hockey-mad Rankin Inlet, the title of Hockeyville fell just out of reach last week.

Despite what hamlet officials called a valiant effort, Rankin bowed out in the semi-finals of the popular CBC series that scoured the country for the community with the greatest love of the frozen game.

About a million Canadians voted during Hockeyville's final episodes, which featured towns from Nova Scotia to British Columbia to Nunavut lobbying for the title.

"Once I heard that one million people had voted, I knew there was not much chance," said Rankin mayor Lorne Kusugak, who travelled to Hamilton, Ont., for the finals.

"We gave it a good shot though."

The Hockeyville crown, along with an NHL exhibition game, $50,000 in arena renovations and $10,000 worth of hockey equipment, went to Salmon River, N.S.

More than 450 towns entered the contest, including Iqaluit and three communities in the Northwest Territories.

Rankin advanced to the top 25 during an earlier episode, but failed to make the semi-final cut in the Northern Division.

Kusugak believes entries from the less populated Northern territories were hampered by Hockeyville's format, which decided winners based on votes from across the country. The national broadcaster should consider changing the winning criteria next time around he said.

Despite the loss, Rankin residents gave an inspired effort and should be proud of their performance, Kusugak said.

"(The showing) was pretty incredible. The spirit of hockey is alive and well in this community.

"It was well worth the effort. It brought our community closer together."