Hockey games have been few and far between for anyone in the NWT over the past couple of years but there may be a glimmer of hope on the horizon.

It may be getting back to normal. May.

The Fort Smith Hawks U15 squad got the chance to get in some game action earlier this month as they headed up the highway to take on some U15 teams from the Yellowknife Minor Hockey Association in the capital. The weekend was able to happen under an exemption through Hockey North, which sanctioned the exhibition games, while the games themselves were played under the current health regulations for minor hockey in Yellowknife.

The Fort Smith squad was actually a combination of players from Fort Smith Minor Hockey and Hay River Minor Hockey.

SA国际影视传媒淲e had eight Fort Smith U15s and two U13s with three U15s from Hay River and one U13,SA国际影视传媒� said Jessica Cox, who was one of the Fort Smith coaches.

The Hawks played a total of four games between Feb. 18 and 20, beginning on the 18th versus the CR Oilers, YellowknifeSA国际影视传媒檚 U13 development squad, and came away with a 6-1 win in that contest. Next up was the Old Time Rangers from the U15 division and that was another victory by a score of 10-1.

Cox said it was after that game that a tougher test was organized.

SA国际影视传媒淲e began a discussion with the (Yellowknife) U15 development team,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚 talked with Darren (Wicks, head coach of the Yk squad) and it came together. The city accommodated our request to get some ice time for the game on Sunday morning. We paid for it but it was booked and we were very appreciative to the city helping make it happen.SA国际影视传媒�

The Hawks would come away from that game with the very short end of the stick but Cox said it was good for her players to experience that kind of hockey.

SA国际影视传媒淭he kids still had positive attitudes and several of the (Yellowknife) players thanked us afterward for giving them the game and for coming,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

The final contest came against another U15 Yellowknife house league team, the Kavanaugh Krushers, and that ended in favour of the Hawks, 5-2.

In summing up the weekend that was, Cox said it was good for her crew to get in some game action but also good that the Fort Smith and Hay River contingents were able to join up.

SA国际影视传媒淣ormally, weSA国际影视传媒檙e playing against each other so thereSA国际影视传媒檚 a bit of that rivalry,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淣othing but positives as far as weSA国际影视传媒檙e concerned and ISA国际影视传媒檓 just glad it all worked out.SA国际影视传媒�

Putting this together began just after Christmas, said Cox, and it was touch-and-go for the last few weeks.

SA国际影视传媒淭here are no tournaments in Alberta we could get into,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淲e could go to Calgary but that doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 work because we drive to all of our tournaments and we were unable to find anything in northern Alberta. WeSA国际影视传媒檝e been looking since the start of the season to take the kids somewhere to play.SA国际影视传媒�

ThatSA国际影视传媒檚 where Tony Jones, another of the teamSA国际影视传媒檚 coaches, polled the teamSA国际影视传媒檚 parents about going somewhere and Yellowknife was agreed upon as the location, she added.

SA国际影视传媒淲e reached out to one of the U15 coaches in Yellowknife to see if there was an appetite for the U15 house league teams to play and it all worked out,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淭he teams allocated their scheduled ice times that weekend and it was still touch-and-go because of Covid-19 but we got everything in. I just hope this is a glimpse of normalcy for next season because the kids really miss playing games.SA国际影视传媒�