LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
There were medals aplenty for Fort Liard athletes at the Connie Loutit Memorial soccer tournament, held in Fort Simpson from Feb. 26 to 28.

Due to a lack of players in the U14 girls division, the U14 girls and boys played together in the game Fort Liard played against Fort Simpson in their round robin game. Fort Liard went on to claim first place in the U14 boys category. In that game, Echo Dene's Jolan Kotchea, left, went up against Thomas Simpson Secondary School's Ariah Thomas, with the help of his fellow teammate Holly Fantasque. To their right, TSS player Shaznay Waugh moved in. - April Hudson/NNSL photo

Twenty-four teams from eight communities turned out to compete. Athletes came from Hay River, Fort Liard, Fort Resolution, Whati, Ndilo, Behchoko and even as far as Whitehorse for the annual tournament, joining Fort Simpson athletes in the recreation centre for a weekend of soccer.

The tournament kicked off with a round robin on Feb. 26 and 27 before rolling into semi-finals and finals on the last day.

Behchoko's Chief Julian Bruneau School (CJBS) won the U12 category, with Fort Liard and Bompas Elementary School trailing them.

The U14 division was initially broken into girls and boys but were combined due to a lack of female players. Thomas Simpson Secondary School was named winner for U14 girls, while Fort Liard took U14 boys, followed by CJBS and players from Whitehorse.

Fort Liard was also dubbed the champion of U16 girls, ahead of CJBS and Fort Simpson.

Players from the Yellowknives Dene First Nation took the U16 boys category, with Fort Resolution and Fort Liard trailing behind.

In U19 boys, Fort Resolution beat out Fort Liard for first place while Simpson claimed bronze.

Open Mens saw Fort Liard come out on top against Fort Resolution with Fort Simpson taking third place once more.

The tournament also ran an open co-ed division with three teams. The Thompson Crew came in first, while Fort Simpson A came in second and Got Balls took third.

Nahendeh MLA Shane Thompson was on-hand throughout the weekend reffing games, and read out the winning teams during the closing ceremonies.

Thompson was one of the people to develop the tournament 13 years ago during his time with the Mackenzie Recreation Association.

He said the turnout saw about 160 athletes this year, a number comparable to recent years.

"When we first started this tournament, we had both gyms going. But ... we've seen it decline in numbers since the beginning," he said.

"This year, Hay River's Ecole Boreale was able to come, so that was actually a real bonus. It was great to see them there."

Thompson officiated 10 games and participated in two.

"I got to watch a lot of soccer this weekend," he laughed.

"I honestly thought it was really good to see the talent there, and you could see each game, each team develop and get better. The sportsmanship was amazing throughout the weekend."

One of the highlights for him was being able to hand the reins over to a younger team of facilitators this year. Recreation co-ordinator Nathan McPherson, Jackie Thompson and Ashley Gillis took over organizing.

"I was there as a helper - someone they could bounce ideas off of - but they ran the show," Thompson said.

"I think they did a great job."

Thompson also credits Bompas teacher Bernie Leader for helping run concessions.

Fort Liard students Mikala McLeod, 14, and Chase Berreault, 12, joined their teammates from Echo Dene School for the competition. McLeod and Berreault have been responsible for coaching the U12 players once to twice per week.

McLeod said coaching comes with its fair share of challenges but the rewards are there too.

"It's very rewarding to watch them grow as players," she said.

This was the 13th year the soccer tournament has run and the 11th under the name of Connie Loutit, a woman known for being active in the sports community who died of cancer in 2005.