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TULITA/FORT NORMAN
A new Fort Simpson hockey team is building momentum.

The Nogha team from Fort Simpson won the T&G Memorial Hockey Tournament in Tulita on March 4. Team members included: back row, from left, Darren Hardisty, Jonathan Tsetso, Chris Stipdonk, Calen Hardisty, Rylan Hardisty-Gillis, Darnell Horassi, Liam Hardisty, TJ Bradbury and Gerald Hardisty; front row, from left, Sheldon McKay and David Lafferty. - photo courtesy of Darren Hardisty

The Nogha team made its first official appearance during the Fort Simpson Men's Recreational Hockey Tournament in January where it finished in fourth place. A month later the team took third place in the Kingland Ford Hockey Tournament in Fort Providence.

At its most recent tournament, the K&G Memorial Hockey Tournament in Tulita, Nogha went undefeated and secured first place. During the tournament, held March 2 to 4, the Fort Simpson team competed against two teams from Tulita and one from Fort Good Hope.

The team's performance in Tulita was its strongest yet said Darren Hardisty, Nogha's captain.

"The chemistry between the players was really showing in that tournament," he said. "Everyone's getting used to each other."

Nogha started the four-on-four tournament with a game against the Tulita Capitols on March 2, winning 7-1. On Saturday the team had its closest game of the tournament, narrowly winning 6-5 against the Tulita Rebels.

'Even match'

"It was an even match," said Hardisty.

During the game, Nogha managed to stay one goal ahead of the Rebels at all times, he said.

Nogha went on to beat Fort Good Hope later that day.

On Sunday, the final day of the tournament, Nogha played Fort Good Hope again in the first versus fourth place game, winning 8-1.

For the finals Nogha took on the Rebels again, winning 7-0.

Adapting to the four-on-four format wasn't a problem for the team because all the players, except three, competed at the tournament last year as the K&K Expediting Team and came in third, said Hardisty.

This year strengths in speed and puck-handling as well as passing and shooting helped propel the team to first place. Keeping the puck away from the competition limited the number of goal attempts they could make, he said. The Rebels took second in the tournament while the Capitols finished in third.

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