There are usually two big hockey tournaments that happen around this time of year in Yellowknife. One hasnSA国际影视传媒檛 been held seen since 2019 while the other showed signs of life one year ago.

That latter tournament came back in a big way.

The Canadian North Balsillie Cup, back for its 39th edition, wrapped up on April 10 at the Multiplex. Five divisions were in play over the course of the tournament with five new champions skating away with the honours. The Balsillie Cup itself was contested in the A Division as the HBC Havoc took on Kavanaugh in what turned out to be a very entertaining final. The Havoc came away 3-2 winners but not before the result was decided in a shootout.

The Havoc held down a 2-1 lead late in the third period but Kavanaugh was handed a power-play late in the final frame and took full advantage of it, potting the equalizer with the man advantage to send it to sudden-death overtime. That solved nothing, meaning it was off to a best-of-three shootout with each team getting three shooters. Kavanaugh scored with their first shooter while the Havoc failed to score.

The Havoc made good on their second shot while goaltender Scott Thomson, playing in place of Johnnie Bowden, who was in Ontario for the birth of his granddaughter, shut the door on KavanaughSA国际影视传媒檚 second shooter. HBCSA国际影视传媒檚 third shooter was also able to score and Thomson stopped KavanaughSA国际影视传媒檚 third shot to seal the win for the Havoc.

SA国际影视传媒淏oth teams had a few chances in overtime but we couldnSA国际影视传媒檛 get anything,SA国际影视传媒� said Havoc defenceman Ryan Nichols. SA国际影视传媒淪cott came up big for us in the shootout.SA国际影视传媒�

It was the two best teams in the A Division going for it in the end SA国际影视传媒� both went undefeated all the way through the round-robin and the playoffs until the final.

SA国际影视传媒淲e won the game that meant the most,SA国际影视传媒� said Nichols.

Fort Smith, one of the out-of-town teams that made the trip for this yearSA国际影视传媒檚 tournament, made it worth the drive up Highway 3 as they beat the DCL Jets to win the B Division crown. The Crowe MacKay Blasters captured the C Division title thanks to a shootout win over RonSA国际影视传媒檚 while Buds North defeated JTFN to win the D Division.

The WomenSA国际影视传媒檚 Division was back for another go-round with five teams from Yellowknife, Fort Smith and Fort Simpson doing battle and it would be an all-capital final with the Rebels beating the Renegades, 7-2, for the title.

Conan Donahue, president of the Yk Oldtimers Hockey League, said the ladies, who first played in their own division in 2019, have brought a breath of fresh air to the tournament.

SA国际影视传媒淚t isnSA国际影视传媒檛 a hard sell for the ladies to play and thereSA国际影视传媒檚 usually two or three teams from out of town that come in to play,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚t just adds that much more going on in the tournament and they look like theySA国际影视传媒檙e having a great time.SA国际影视传媒�

In addition to the teams from Fort Smith, there were entries from Whati and Behchoko for this yearSA国际影视传媒檚 event and Donahue said itSA国际影视传媒檚 a sign that things are getting back to what they once were.

SA国际影视传媒淚 wonSA国际影视传媒檛 say itSA国际影视传媒檚 going to go back to completely normal but itSA国际影视传媒檚 going toward something resembling normal,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚 can see it getting back to the old format as it was before with all those little extras, like the hospitality room, but that all depends on whether weSA国际影视传媒檙e allowed to do it.SA国际影视传媒�

Nichols said it felt like a Balsillie Cup of old SA国际影视传媒� somewhat.

SA国际影视传媒淚t had a feeling of what it was before,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淣ice to have the fans back in the stands and the beer garden back and to play teams from outside Yellowknife again.SA国际影视传媒�