LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON - A grim realization settled over the hometown crowd in Fort Simpson as the clock ran down during the finals of the Fort Simpson Men's Recreational Hockey Tournament.

The game was a rematch of last year's finals which the Fort Simpson Nahanni Inn Flyers won against the Fort Providence Bulls. This time, however, the outcome between the long time rivals was different.

The Fort Providence Bulls won the Fort Simpson Men's Recreational Hockey Tournament. Team members included from left, back row: coach Al Larocque, Thomas Simpson, Mike Smith, Trevor Bonnetrouge, Scotty Larocque, Mike Vandell, Kirk Sangris and Michael Grandjambe; middle row: Kevin McLeod, Nick Minde, Willard Lizotte, Angus Black and Kiel Krutko; front row: Cameron Sapp. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

The game began with the Bull's Kirk Sangris scoring the first goal. The Flyers followed with a goal by Neco Towtongie that was quickly sandwiched by a puck into the net by the Bull's Cameron Sapp leaving the score 2-1 early in the first period.

The Bull's Nick Minde scored with seven minutes left in the period bringing the score to 3-1.

The action on the ice was fast paced and aggressive during the second period but despite numerous goal attempts neither team was able to change the score. Time also sped away in the final period until with just over five minutes left Travis Hanna scored, slightly improving the Flyer's position.

That momentum, however, was negated a minute later when Sapp scored his second goal of the game. Less than a minute after that Sapp scored a hat trick, the last goal of the game, leaving the score 5-2 for the Bulls.

Kiel Krutko, who played defense for the Bulls, said he felt "pretty good," about the victory.

Coming into the tournament the Bulls knew that either the Flyers or the Hay River Huskies would be the team to beat and both teams lived up to those expectations, Krutko said.

Despite the competition the Bulls went undefeated in the round robin winning 4-2 against the Flyers, 5-0 against the Fort Simpson Sub Arctic Eagles and 6-1 against the Huskies. The team went on to beat the Deline Chiefs 10-2 in the quarter finals.

The Bulls' players spent the first few games of the round robin getting familiar with each other before finally clicking on the ice, said Krutko. Being strong defensively gave the team an advantage, he said.

The Bulls received $2,000 for winning the tournament. The team is now looking forward to meeting the Flyers again, this time on their ice during the Kingland Ford Rec Hockey Tournament in Fort Providence.

Second place in the tournament and $1,500 went to the Flyers while the Hay River Huskies took home $600 after beating Deline 9-2 in the semi-finals.

The competition between the five teams was the most even the tournament has seen in years, said Owen Rowe, the captain of the Flyers.

"It was a great tournament," he said.

Having the largest number out of town teams in five years and seeing Deline return after an approximately six year absence added to the event, Rowe said.

In the finals the competition was stiff between the Flyers and the Bulls. Both teams had good goaltenders, he said.

"You can't win them all," said Rowe.

Three individual awards were also given out during the tournament. Warren Vandermeer of the Chiefs was named top goalie while Thomas Simpson of the Bulls took the top scorer award for getting four goals and four assists. The tournament player award, given for sportsmanship and excellence on the ice, went to Hay River's Curtis Rowe.

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