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LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON - They gave it their all but it wasn't quite enough.

After going undefeated in all four of their games at the Fort Simpson Men's Rec Hockey Tournament last weekend, the Fort Providence Bulls were unable to score the final goals that would have won them the tournament. In the finals, the Bulls faced off against the Hay River Shockers.

The two teams have a long-standing rivalry.

Danny Ragan, center, of the Nahanni Inn Flyers jumps to avoid a puck shot towards the net by one of his teammates while goalie Sheldon Bolt and R.J. Benoit of the Hay River Shockers watch its path. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

"Hay River always gives us a hard time every tournament. They're a pretty competitive team," said Kiel Krutko, the Bulls' assistant captain.

During an earlier match in the round robin, the Bulls beat the Shockers 7-2. In the first period of the finals, it looked like the Bulls were going to repeat their victory. Using an assist by Christ Lants and Robbie Laviolette, Michael Krutko scored a goal halfway through the period and the team staved off the Shockers' onslaughts.

Everything changed, however, in the second period.

The Shockers scored a goal just minutes into the second and followed it with three successive goals, bringing the score to 4-1 in their favour. With seconds left in the period, the Bulls' Chris Lants scored a goal, making it 4-2.

In the Bulls' dressing room during the break before the third and final period, the message was "come on boys, let's start skating," said Krutko.

Back on the ice the Bulls narrowed the point gap thanks to a goal by Mike Vandell off an assist by Krutko. With the score at 4-3 for the Shockers, the Bulls made numerous scoring attempts but were unable to get another goal.

The Shockers won the game and the tournament 5-3 after scoring a final goal on an empty net after the Bulls pulled their goalie.

The Bulls definitely provided the hardest competition for the Hay River team, said Cody Townend, captain of the Shockers.

The two teams are always meeting up at tournaments, Townend said.

"We're all friends with the guys. We see them at most of the tournaments so we have fun out there," he said.

Townend attributed the Shockers' wins throughout the tournament to staying positive and keeping the energy level on the ice high by using short shifts for the 12 players.

For winning first place, the Shockers took home $3,000 followed by $1,400 for the Bulls and $600 for Fort Simpson's Nahanni Inn Flyers. The Flyers secured third place after beating another village team, the Deh Cho Raiders, 7-3 in the semi-finals.

Some individual athletes were also recognized.

Steffen Millette of the Shockers was given the tournament player award for his sportsmanship and excellence after being nominated by the referees and other players. Michael Krutko of the Bulls was named the top scorer after landing 13 points during the round robin. Lance Lennie, also of the Bulls, won the top goalie award for the fifth year in a row while goalie Sheldon McKay of the Deh Cho Raiders was given honourable mention.

A total of six teams played in the three-day tournament from Jan. 23 to25 in the village.

"It's great to have competitive hockey here in Fort Simpson," said Chris Hewitt, a member of the organizing committee.

Other tournament organizers included Owen Rowe, Danny Ragan and Shane Thompson. Credit for the tournament also goes to the staff at the recreation centre, said Hewitt.

The rec staff worked hard throughout the week leading up to the tournament to repair the ice after the earlier melt and have the arena ready for the event, Hewitt said.