Face Off (The Hub)

Fort Smith wins gold but players, families happy to be back at rink

By Simon Whitehouse
Northern News Services

The U13 Hay River Huskies annual tournament took place at the Aurora Ford Arena over the weekend and while the Fort Smith Hawks claimed the gold medals, many were just glad to be gathered for another competition.

Kirsten Fischer, co-organizer with Annette Rupert, said that the event marked the first sanctioned tournament in Hay River in two years and the feedback
was very positive.

“It was so great to see kids being kids again, enjoying the rink and playing with their friends and old friends from out of town teams,” Fischer said. “It was just so
beautiful to see.”

The weekend event drew five teams all together with two Hay River Huskies teams - Blue and White - as well as two Yellowknife teams - the Yellowknife Wolfpack and the Crowe Mackay Crunchers. Fort Smith also sent the team, who turned out to
win it all. The Huskies White team made their way to the gold medal game on Sunday afternoon against the Fort Smith Hawks.

Hay River played strong with a 4-3 lead late into the third period, until they fell behind with three unanswered goals plus an empty netter with seconds remaining to finish the game 7-4.

The Hay River Blue team won 12-2 against Yellowknife. Fischer said the tournament was a bit scaled back as there are usually pancake breakfasts held with raffles and a pizza party for the team. Those elements didn’t occur this year and there were protocols in place to ensure Covid-19 safety around the ice surface. For example, different entrances were set up for the tournament with teams entering the far entrance by Northmart.

There was also hand sanitizer and masks available throughout the weekend on site.
Organizers had the date in mind weeks in advance, but with the circuit breaker that occurred over the Christmas holidays and into the new year, there was uncertainty whether a tournament would even happen. “We weren’t even sure if we were going to get to have the tournament because the arena just opened up a few weeks ago,” she said. “If we hadn’t been able to hold it in February this weekend - it was our only time reallyto host - then we wouldn’t have had one this year.” Players and parents from near and abroad were just glad to have an event and the tournament was largely thrown together within a few weeks, Fischer said. “We told the other out of town teams that although it is such short notice this is when the tournament is going to be and it would be great if you can come. If not then we understand.

“But we found that them saying ‘No, it’s great’ and that they were looking forward to coming because they feel we always host great tournaments. They’re really impressed were just happy to be able to travel because they haven’t been able to travel for two years.” Dana Fergusson, who served as a substitute coach for the Hawks squad Cory who came down with Covid-19, said the team’s lines drawn up worked well. The Hawks team was also made up of five players from Yellowknife’s Mary Brown’s team.

““Hay River always hosts a great event and our kids loved being back on the ice again,” Fergusson said, adding that her team loved playing with the other plays
from the capital. “The final game was a nail-biter and I’m sure the sure fans in the stands were on the edge of their seats.”