It took 12 rounds, but the Rapidfire Roofing Raiders finally solved Kurt Kramer.

Ross Keith was the only Raiders player able to beat the Trans North Helicopters goalie in the shootout – and his second goal in the 12th round stood up as the game-winner.

Keith’s heroics in the extended shootout gave the Raiders a 3-2 victory in the inaugural Canyon City Hockey League (CCHL) championship last night at the Canada Games Centre.

“I just tried to go in as fast as I could and he just backed up a bit and I saw a spot,” Keith said post-game. “We tried a whole bunch of different stuff but just coming in with speed is often startling for a goalie.”

Keith commended the six-foot-four Kramer for a solid effort.

“He’s the best goalie in the league. ... We had a hard time scoring on him all season.”

The shootout loss ended Trans North’s Cinderella playoff run, spurred by the stellar play of Kramer in net.

After finishing last in the five-team league in the regular season, the Helicopters went 4-0 in the playoffs to earn a berth in the final, before falling just short. They beat the Raiders 5-1 in the round robin.

The Raiders, meanwhile, finished first in regular-season play.

Blue-liner Marc-Andre Chartrand was the only player able to beat Kramer in regular time last night, staking the Raiders to an early lead with a seeing-eye shot that found its way through a maze of players, then Kramer.

After Trans North defenceman Chris Pollare scored twice to give the Helicopters a 2-1 lead, Chartrand scored again to tie the game with a high slapshot from outside the blue-line.

A five-minute overtime solved nothing, but Kramer did add one last highlight-reel save, stoning Chris Cann on a clear-cut breakaway.

Then came the shootout. Keith and Pollare were the only shooters to find twine the first time through the teams, before Keith scored again on the first shot of the second round.

Benoit Grenier – a fill-in for Rapidfire regular Stacey Bowden who has left the territory – provided the heroics in the Raiders net.

“I think we had pretty good chemistry in the locker room, and that can go a pretty long way,” Chartrand said.

“We got lucky here at the end, but we had a great season overall.”

Chartrand, a Yukon newcomer from Ottawa, said the league lived up to its motto. The gentlemen’s league aims to foster camaraderie and respect between players.

“I wanted to get involved in a friendly league, and that’s exactly what it was all about. It was good games and pretty close matchups all year. Pretty even teams.”

Keith agreed: “We would’ve had fun even if we lost. It’s just another fun game. When it comes down to it, this league isn’t about winning at all costs.”

Trans North players were not made available to the media last night.

Meanwhile, the Sun Life Sundogs took third 5-4 over Bailey’s Pub and Grill with Kyle Marchuk slipping the game-winner past goalie Rob Green.

The CCHL was founded last season with just three teams. That season concluded without playoffs.

Select teams also played regular games against a bantam-aged Mustangs club this season.