In normal times, the minor hockey season is Yellowknife would be finished well before now.

But, as we all know, it hasnSA国际影视传媒檛 been normal since early 2020 and that includes minor hockey. So it took a bit longer to conclude proceedings for the Yk Minor Hockey Association this season.

Championship Weekend is the traditional wrap-up for the year and that took place this past weekend at the Yk Community Arena and Multiplex. Most of the associationSA国际影视传媒檚 divisions had their playoffs and deciding contests SA国际影视传媒� the exceptions were the U5, U7 and U9 divisions. They each played a series of fun games to close things out.

One of this seasonSA国际影视传媒檚 champions is the DCL Jets as they captured the U18 division title thanks to a 6-5 win over the Nextreme Knights on Sunday evening. It was one of those games that went back and forth, the sort of contest you would want to have for a championship final, according to Peter Curran, one of DCLSA国际影视传媒檚 coaches.

SA国际影视传媒淲e went up, 1-0, then went down, 3-2, then tied 4-4, we went up 6-4, they got one late in the third period, they pulled their goaltender to get the tying goal and we mucked it out until the end,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

While it was a team effort that got them over the line, Curran said numerous players stood out over the course of the game.

SA国际影视传媒淣extreme forward Luke Kotaska gave us everything we could handle with three goals in the first half of the game, (but) Michael Van Metre did his part for us by matching Luke goal-for-goal with a hat trick of his own,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淲e got another rock-steady effort from goaltender Spencer Miller, who was probably our most consistent player all season.SA国际影视传媒�

Both teams ended up in the final by virtue of winning their semifinals SA国际影视传媒� DCL beat Subway, the U15 development team, to advance while Nextreme beat HakSA国际影视传媒檚 to move on.

SA国际影视传媒淏oth of the semifinals were good games,SA国际影视传媒� said Curran. SA国际影视传媒淲e won ours in overtime and Nextreme had a close one against HakSA国际影视传媒檚 as well.SA国际影视传媒�

Curran said this yearSA国际影视传媒檚 U18 division was quite competitive among all of the teams but it was also fun in that some players were playing for the first time.

SA国际影视传媒淲e had four kids who didnSA国际影视传媒檛 play last year,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淩eally competitive division and goodwill between the players. It was a mixture of kids who played on development teams and the new guys and they were all happy to share the ice with each other.SA国际影视传媒�

In the other action, the Canadian North Flyers emerged victorious in the U11 division while the G and G Thunder captured the U13 crown and the CR Oilers took the U15 division honours.

This season didnSA国际影视传媒檛 come without its hiccups, all caused by surges of Covid-19 in the city. The big shutdown came just after the Christmas break when the Omicron variant took hold.

Steve Thompson, the associationSA国际影视传媒檚 president, said the multiple interruptions were a minor hindrance but nothing the membership couldnSA国际影视传媒檛 handle.

SA国际影视传媒淭he kids and our volunteers were great in dealing with the pauses we had,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒�(Executive director) Janet Murray did such an amazing job with our scheduling and rescheduling everything, and everyone did their part in making sure we got it all done.SA国际影视传媒�

In a normal campaign, everything would be done by the time spring break rolled around but the pauses in action forced the association to go deep into April, he added.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e usually done in time for the Spring On Ice Tournament (in Edmonton) but we had to push everything to this past weekend,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

Speaking of Spring On Ice, teams from Yellowknife had some fine results last month while some of the development teams, including the CR Oilers and Subway, got the chance to hit the road and play in travel tournaments again.

Thompson said being able to travel is one of the best parts of youth sport.

SA国际影视传媒淭hereSA国际影视传媒檚 that team bonding that happens and the camaraderie among the kids,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淵ou canSA国际影视传媒檛 get that at home and so having our teams get back out on the road was huge.SA国际影视传媒�

The travel is part of something Thompson hopes will help get things back to something resembling normalcy.

SA国际影视传媒淚 hope things stay on the path they are,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淲e have to realize itSA国际影视传媒檚 a new normal but itSA国际影视传媒檚 pretty close to what it was and ISA国际影视传媒檓 hoping things will continue the way they have been the last little while.SA国际影视传媒�

Curran also thinks the future looks good.

SA国际影视传媒淲e had our disruptions this year but we couldnSA国际影视传媒檛 have asked for more than what we had,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淲e lost out on the tournaments here and the one in Hay River but the kids came back and I think there was real value in having a competitive house league like we did this season.SA国际影视传媒�