For the first time in three years, the National Aboriginal Hockey Championships returned to the ice and that meant Team North was hard at it once again.

The boys team, made up of players from Nunavut, the NWT and Yukon, kicked things off on May 9 in Membertou, N.S., against Saskatchewan in the opening game of the boys tournament and were on the wrong end of an 8-5 decision against one of the better teams in the draw. The highlight in that contest was IqaluitSA国际影视传媒檚 Bradley Fraser, who scored four of the teamSA国际影视传媒檚 goals. They would right the ship later in the day by beating B.C., 6-4.

Manitoba was the opposition the following day and that ended in a 6-3 defeat SA国际影视传媒� YellowknifeSA国际影视传媒檚 Emmery Golchert had two goals in a losing effort in that one SA国际影视传媒� but Wednesday was a winning day as the boys knocked off Team Atlantic, 7-4. McKinley Talbot of Yellowknife scored his first goal of the tournament in that one.

Their record of two wins and two losses in the round-robin was good enough to get them into the qualification round and another crack at B.C. on Thursday.

Prior to that contest, Talbot said things were rolling along nicely.

SA国际影视传媒淎 .500 record is good,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 always good to win some games and get the confidence up. We got the hang of it as we went on.SA国际影视传媒�

Problem is B.C. didSA国际影视传媒檛 co-operate in the playoff contest as Team North fell by a score of 7-5. That meant the boys didnSA国际影视传媒檛 advance to the medal round and could finish no higher than fifth in the relegation round. They played Manitoba again in their first game of the day, followed by Team Atlantic in the evening.

Hay RiverSA国际影视传媒檚 Owen Pettipas, who was in goal for both of the wins, was watching from the bench for that game and said it was disappointing to lose that way.

SA国际影视传媒淛ust a bad turn of events and itSA国际影视传媒檚 tough because we beat them already,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淲e had a couple of chances on the power-play but we just couldnSA国际影视传媒檛 get it and fell into a hole late in the third.SA国际影视传媒�

The boys all met in Winnipeg at the beginning of this month to get to know each other and get some practice time in.

Talbot said it didnSA国际影视传媒檛 take long for the boys to come together as a team.

SA国际影视传媒淚 knew the Yukon guys from playing with them on the (Yukon) Rivermen team a couple of years ago, and Emmery and Crew, of course, but we all got along really quickly,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

This will be TalbotSA国际影视传媒檚 first and last time playing in the tournament SA国际影视传媒� heSA国际影视传媒檒l be too old for next year as itSA国际影视传媒檚 U18 SA国际影视传媒� and he said it was everything he thought it would be.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 how I envisioned it going,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檝e done a lot better than we set out to do, we got into the groove really quickly and we had good rhythm.SA国际影视传媒�

Pettipas is able to get one more crack next year and he said heSA国际影视传媒檚 looking forward to going back next year, if heSA国际影视传媒檚 chosen.

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 hoping we can do a bit better next year,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淲e thought we had a good chance at getting a medal after a good round-robin but ISA国际影视传媒檓 looking to next year.SA国际影视传媒�