LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
Deline came out of the Fort Simpson Rec Hockey Tournament this past weekend undefeated, topping the Fort Simpson Flyers 10-2 in the final game.

Gus Mandeville skates down the ice at the Fort Simpson rec centre after the puck with a Hay River player in pursuit during a game Feb. 7. - Shane Magee/NNSL photo

The tournament brought three teams of locals and a team from Deline and Hay River to the ice in the rec centre.

"It was excellent," said Owen Rowe, an executive on the men's hockey committee and Flyers team member.

Deline beat the Flyers to take the championship while Hay River came in third place.

Rowe said the calibre of the teams was high, especially Deline.

The final score of the the Deline teams' games - 8-2 against the Flyers, 8-1 against the Eagles, 6-2 against Nogha - proved that, he said.

"They were a classy team and it was nice having them - other than the licking," said Rowe with a laugh.

The third local team - the Eagles - is fairly new. The team, organized by Shawn Gillis who just started playing three years ago, had a mix of new hockey players and those with more experience.

The league has players that range in age from 18 all the way to Ted Grant at 67.

"Everybody kind of musters up for it," Rowe said about the players who take part.

Fort Providence entered a team, but didn't end up attending.

The annual tournament is the main event for the village men's rec league, not just for play but also as a fundraiser.

Despite playing in a relatively small hockey market, Rowe said the league prides itself on doling out some of the highest prizes in the territory.

The top team goes home with $3,000 while second earns $1,500 and third gets $600.

"It's a huge amount, double everyone else," Rowe said.

The registration fees don't bring in enough to cover event costs so the tournament includes a dance.

The tournament wouldn't happen without that.

It helps cover things like hiring referees for the games.

Rowe said he needed to commend Nathan McPherson, the village's recreation coordinator, for all the hard work he put in, as well as other volunteers to organize the weekend.

Next year will mark the 30th anniversary of the tournament in the village.

Rowe said he's played in all but two - which he missed because he didn't live in the area.

Next up on the tournament circuit is the Kingland Ford tournament in Fort Providence from Feb. 13 to 15.

Since the two events are happening on back-to-back weekends, Rowe said he's not sure if a Fort Simpson team will be taking part.

The last big event of the hockey season for local teams is the First Air Tournament in Yellowknife on Easter long weekend in April. Rowe said typically three Fort Simpson teams will play in that event.