HIGH LEVEL, Alta - The Fort Providence Bulls have proven they can hold their own against Alberta hockey teams.

The Bulls finished in second place in the Vegas Cup, a tournament in High Level from April 1 to 3. The team, which included six players from Fort Providence and six other athletes who regularly play with the Bulls, was up against eight other teams.

The Bulls started the tournament with a 15-2 win over the High Level Mirage and carried that momentum forward to win 9-2 against the High Level Kings.

The Bulls then downed the Mirage by a score of 7-2.

"They gave us a better game," said Al Lar-ocque, the Bull's coach, of the second meeting.

Based on a point system that awarded each team a point for every period they were ahead and half a point for every period they were tied, the Bulls were set against the Kings in the semifinals. The Bulls continued their winning streak with 7-2 victory making them the top-seeded team based on points.

The win, however, came with a price. Kiel Krutko went into the boards and broke his collarbone after getting his skates tangled up with one of the Kings.

"It really put a dent in our defence," Larocque said.

Moving into the finals, the Bulls went up against a team they have history with. Two years ago, when the Bulls went to the Vegas Cup, they took third after being pushed out of competing in the final by the Horse Lake Thunder.

This time Horse Lake was between the Bulls and first place. Horse Lake scored first but the Bulls were able to quickly tie it up. A marker apiece then tied the game at 2.

In the later stages of the game, Horse Lake would pull ahead with two more goals. With 45 seconds remaining in the third Horse Lake buried an empty netter to hand the Bulls a 5-2 loss. Horse Lake had an advantage because they had a full roster of four lines, said Larocque, He conceded, however, that the Bulls had two breakaways and were unable to score on either.

"It was a good tournament," said Larocque. "The boys played hard."

The Bulls are now looking forward to playing in the A division of the First Air Tournament in Yellowknife from April 22 to 24 where they will meet their Deh Cho rivals, the Fort Simpson Nahanni Inn Flyers.

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