LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON - New blood prevailed over experience during the Fort Simpson Merchants' Bonspiel held over the weekend in the village.

Members of the winning rink at the Fort Simpson Merchants' Bonspiel include, from left, Dan Deschamps, Laurie Ozmun, Troy Searson and Erin Allooloo. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

Spectators lined the windows in the curling lounge to watch the final game in the A Division of the bonspiel as the PR Contracting Ltd. team of Pat Rowe, Lee Scobie, Sheldon Brown and Alison Minue took to the ice against the B's in the Back team of Troy Searson, Dan Deschamps, Erin Allooloo and Laurie Ozmun.

Heading into the finals Erin Allooloo said she was pleased with the team's performance.

"(We're doing) excellent considering Laurie and I just started this year," said Allooloo.

On the ice the B's in the Back team was defending their undefeated record.

Coming home in the last end of the game it looked like the team's record was about to change because they were down two against PR. Scoring two to tie the game at seven forced extra ends.

In the extra end, the B's in the Back placed two stones early which the PR team tried to take out, said Troy Searson.

The deciding moment came down to PR skip Pat Rowe's stone. Rowe made his planned shot but failed to move the opposing rock far enough off the button leaving the B's in the Back with a single point to win 8-7.

"We won by inches," said Searson.

Many of the team's games had been close but the final game was one for the books, he said.

"That's a close as they come," said Searson.

Rowe congratulated his opponents on their win.

"They played great," said Rowe.

During the weekend the Hay River Fire department team of Wyatt Scheller, Leah Plett, Jennifer Simons and Kyle Wright took first place in the B Division while the team of Colin Munro, Leah Keats, Glen Burritt and Jeffrey Tapper took second.

In the C Division the team of Shane Thompson, Jodie Thompson, Michael Rowe and Liza McPherson took first place while the NTPC team of Trevor Kjeldsli, Mike Ocko, Lorraine Ocko and Lonnie Croucher took second.

For the Fort Simpson Curling Club the Merchants' Bonspiel is the biggest event of the year, said Keats who is also the club's president.

A total of 14 teams competed in this year's event including a full team from Hay River and Wrigley.

"Everyone seemed to have a great time," said Keats.

In addition to some great curling the club's lounge was well used.

"We had a good group of people hanging around," she said.

This was the 19th year the bonspiel has been held at the recreation centre. Plans are already in the works for the 20th anniversary. The club is hoping 24 teams will compete. To accommodate all the games curling could be held round the clock, said Keats.

The club's next event this year will be a fun Sweetheart's Bonspiel on Feb. 16.