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Fort Liard hits its soccer stride
Local players show their quality at 19-team annual tournament

April Hudson
Northern News Services
Thursday, December 1, 2016

ACHO DENE KOE/FORT LIARD
Nineteen teams of soccer players - approximately 120 kids, by the count of Fort Liard's recreation co-ordinator Sophie Kirby - piled into the hamlet for a rousing weekend of soccer.

NNSL photo/graphic

Players for Fort Resolution and Ndilo shake hands following a game on the weekend. - photo courtesy of Sophie Kirby

The tournament, the third of its kind for Fort Liard, began Nov. 25 and wrapped up Nov. 27. Players came from Fort Providence, Fort Simpson, Fort Resolution, Ndilo, Whati and Hay River to play against home teams in Fort Liard.

Although the tournament originally only included U14, U16 and U19 divisions, the games were modified this year to include a noncompetitive U12 division.

Fort Liard placed first in U14, with Ndilo coming second and Fort Providence trailing in third.

In the U16 division, Fort Liard took first place once more with its "A" team, with Fort Resolution coming second and Fort Simpson third.

U19 was won by Fort Resolution's team, while Fort Liard's "B" placed second and Ndilo took third place.

The tournament included a round robin before moving into semi-finals and finals.

Nahendeh MLA Shane Thompson and his son Gordon Thompson officiated the games. Thompson said he was pleased to see how many communities sent teams.

"At one point in time, there were probably 50 people watching the kids play soccer," he said.

"The community really bought into it and was excited about it - it's really good to see that."

The tournament was a competitive one, with the U16 division going to a shoot-out in overtime between Fort Liard and Fort Resolution to determine the winner after their final game resulted in a 4-4 tie.

Two semi-final games also went into overtime, Thompson said.

"The kids gave it all and worked really hard," Thompson said.

As the former regional sport and recreation co-ordinator with the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, Thompson said the tournament gave him a chance to re-connect with some youth and young adults.

This was his second time helping out with the tournament.

"It's good to see how it's grown," he said.

The turnout this year is an all-time high for the event, which saw 17 teams last year and nearly half that the year before.

Thompson said the addition of a U12 division gave younger children a chance to play as well. Modeled in the style of Fort Simpson's Paul Stipdonk Memorial Tournament, the noncompetitive U12 games involved three teams and approximately 20 players.

"It was nice to see some little guys and girls go to play soccer," Thompson said.

The tournament couldn't have been as successful, he added, without the efforts of volunteers and recreation staff.

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