It was a big weekend for hockey in Slave Lake. Twenty teams competed in the Treaty 8 First Nations Cup that was actually three separate tournaments – men, women and oldtimers.
The Loon River Stars won the men’s division with an exciting shoot-out victory over the Whitefish Thunder. Stan Auger scored the winning goal in the shoot-out after the teams skated to a 6 – 6 tie through three periods.
Auger had a huge game for the Stars. He scored five goals altogether, plus an assist on Merle Noskey’s goal. Darren Noskey got the other one and David Houle was the winning goalie.
On the Thunder side, Travis C. scored twice and set up two others. James T. had three goals and an assist.
Sucker Creek won the women’s tournament. They beat Sturgeon Lake in the final.
The Wabasca oldtimers were the champions in that division. They won 6 – 2, also over Sturgeon Lake.
There were 12 teams in the men’s division and four each in the women’s and oldtimers’. Thirteen teams were registered in the men’s division, but one failed to show up, says organizer Dwayne Thunder.
Thunder says the Treaty 8 Cup was the first annual tournament of its kind, and is calling it a big success. It will definitely be held next year, he says, but he’s not sure where. One team from the Northwest Territories had to drive about 14 hours to get to Slave Lake.
But even that team said they’d come back if it was held in Slave Lake. Thunder says the ice was expensive, but there was good support from local businesses and the tournament went very well.
“They (the teams) enjoyed themselves and I had a great time,” he says.

Copyright © 2000 The Lakeside Leader. All Rights Reserved.
No part may be reproduced without written permission.

View our Privacy Statement.
Send website suggestions to the Webmaster