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HAY RIVER
Even deteriorating ice conditions couldn't keep a team of Fort Simpson female hockey players from dominating its division at a tournament in Hay River.

The Moosehide Mammas are, from left, Kristen Morrison, Jennifer Thistle, April Bell, Alyssa Carpenter and Alexa Tsetso. The team won first place in the women's division at the Polar Pond Hockey Tournament in Hay River on March 25. - photo courtesy of Kristen Morrison

The Moosehide Mammas won the women's division at the Polar Pond Hockey Tournament held on 10 outdoor rinks from March 23 to 25. The team was comprised of two current Mammas, Alexa Tsetso and Kristen Morrison, and three alumni, April Bell, Alyssa Carpenter and Jennifer Thistle.

This was the first tournament the Mammas have competed in this season. They went undefeated through six games.

"It was pretty exciting," said Tsetso.

Tsetso said the Mammas played well in the tournament's relaxed atmosphere that included being outdoors and not wearing hockey gear. There was a lot of good energy, she said.

The Mammas won their first game handily 22-3 against the Tipsy Cups but had to make every goal count against B&T Plumbing from Hay River as the game finished 12-11. The Mammas also won against the Hot Mammas 18-8.

The team's final three games on Sunday were back-to-back starting with a win against the Gobblers at 1 p.m. and a second win against the Hot Mammas at 2 p.m. The finals saw the Moosehide Mammas face B&T Plumbing again.

"It was a tough game. It was goal-for-goal," said Tsetso

The game was made even more difficult by the ice conditions. Warm temperatures turned the ice surface to slush. It was more like running on the ice instead of skating, said Morrison.

"We had to work extra hard because it was so hard to skate," she said.

"There was no easy gliding."

The Mammas won the game narrowly, 14-12, to take the division title. This is the second year the Mammas have competed in the tournament. Last year the team that included Morrison, Tsetso and Thistle finished in second place after losing by only one point in the finals. All of the team members have committed to coming together again next year to play in the tournament, Morrison said.

"It's fun playing against the other teams," she said. "There's great sportsmanship between the teams."

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