The Whitehorse Oldtimers Hockey League held their annual tournament this weekend. By all accounts, some very good hockey was played at the Takhini Arena and Canada Games Centre.

Twelve teams took part in the tourney, including ones from Carmacks and Teslin. 152 players were in the tourney.

The finals were held on Sunday at Takhini Arena.

In the Group A final, Royal Flush flushed the Nationals in shocking fashion by tying the game 3-3 with a mere .9 seconds left on the clock. Royal Flush then beat the stunned Nationals 2-1 in the shootout following a five minute overtime session. Mark King and Jordy Shaw scored in the shootout for the Flush, while Scott Palfreyman replied for the Nationals.

Joe Mason scored two in regulation time for the winners, including the unbelievable tying goal with .9 seconds left on the clock.

Tournament organizer Peter Johnston was on the losing end of the shocking defeat for the Nationals.

Johnston described the loss as “Painful. Crazy overtime. And then we lose in a shootout … part of the game unfortunately.”

The Nationals went undefeated and had a bye into the playoffs. Royal Flush had beaten Yukon Brewing to advance to the ill-fated final for the Nationals, who beat the Flush 3-1 in their first meeting of the tourney.

In the Group C final, the Friday Oldtimers dominated the Tuesday/Thursday Oldtimers 6-2. Everette Rooke netted a hat trick for the victors.

In the final game of the tourney, in Group B, the Rats squeaked out a victory over the Teslin team, 6-4, on the strength of a hatty by Shawn Kinsella.

Johnston said the tournament was a big success.

“Hockey’s been great this weekend. High level, probably the highest level I’ve ever seen in Whitehorse Oldtimers. We’ve had former Husky players that have played in the big Coy Cup here that were playing for the Flush, so the level of hockey is really improved.

“It’s great to see. We’re getting an influx of young players coming in, but it makes for a very exciting weekend and very competitive hockey at the same time.”

Johnston added it was a “great weekend overall. Big thank you to Victoria Gold for sponsoring the banquet, which was very impressive. It was a highlight.

“Also to the league in supporting us doing this. It was great to put this on … we look forward to doing it again next year.”