Bulls chase competition off ice in annual hockey tournament
Aurora Ford Hockey Tournament sees teams from across territory, home team dominate the ice
April Hudson
Northern News Services
Thursday, February 16, 2017
DEH GAH GOT'IE KOE/FORT PROVIDENCE
Hockey players converged on Fort Providence for a weekend of games as the Aurora Ford hockey tournament got underway on Feb. 10.
Fort Simpson's men's hockey team took home third place during the Aurora Ford Men's Hockey Tournament in Fort Providence. In the back, from left, are Shawn Gillis, Brendan Tsetso, Josh Bembridge, Calen Hardisty, Gordon Thompson, Kyle Christiansen, Liam Hardisty, Darren Hardisty and Owen Rowe. In the front, from left, are Alex Roche, Nathan McPherson and Guantanamo Hardisty. - photo courtesy of Owen Rowe
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Teams came from Hay River and Fort Simpson to join Fort Providence's Northland Bulls on the ice.
The teams played a round-robin format on Feb. 10 and 11, with Fort Providence and Hay River moving on to the finals on Feb. 12.
Fort Simpson's team, the Nahanni Flyers, lost its final round-robin game against the Bulls and went up against Hay River in the semi-finals, said player Gordon Thompson.
"Hay River beat Simpson in a shootout to win the semis against us," he added.
Andre Bolduc, the recreation co-ordinator for Fort Providence, said the final score for that game was 3-2.
The tough competition continued into the finals as the Bulls battled Hay River on Sunday, finally taking first place with an overtime win.
"It could have gone (either) way," Thompson said.
Bolduc said the final game ended with a score of 4-3.
"The winning goal was scored less than a minute into overtime," he said.
The tournament originally expected to have five teams playing, but Bolduc said teams from Yellowknife and Meander River didn't have enough players to make the trip.
Despite the small tournament size players got lots of hockey in, running a double round robin.
"It was a lot of hockey, but the guys who came like to play," Bolduc said.
"Overall, they were fine with it . It seemed like the teams enjoyed themselves, and that's one of the main things for myself, since it's not really a big-money tournament."
Bolduc said he was especially happy with the performance of two officials who Hockey North sent for the tournament. Philip Krahn, from La Crete, Alta., and Clark Marcino from Yellowknife trekked in for the games.
"We had a lot of positive feedback from all three teams about them - they were very easygoing and went with the style of play," Bolduc said.
Saturday's round-robin games finished in time for an adult dance, hosted by Fort Providence Minor Hockey.
The dance featured Johnny Landry and the Boys.
