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Soccer wraps up with a bang in Port Hardy

Annual youth tournament draws teams from throughout North Vancouver Island
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Austin Cook of Alert Bay clears the ball from his zone as goalie Frank Smith looks on during a U-18 game in the annual Port Hardy Youth Soccer Tournament Saturday

PORT HARDY — The North Island youth soccer season wrapped up with a flourish last weekend, as teams from throughout the region converged on local fields for the annual Port Hardy Youth Soccer tournament.

Participants came from Alert Bay, Port Alice, Port McNeill and Sointula to join the host association for three days of competition and fun.

In the end, all of the titles in divisional play (12-over) went to Port Hardy and Port McNeill teams.

Port McNeill claimed the U-18 mixed championship with a 2-1 win over Port Hardy.

The Port Hardy Tropics earned the U-15 boys championship with a 2-1 win over Port McNeill Team 2, while Port McNeill's Princess Hagithas downed Port Hardy's Blue Strikers for the U-15 girls title.

In U-12 play, Port Hardy's Wolverines avenged a previous loss in the final of the Port McNeill Mud Bowl by edging Port McNeill 2-1 for the boys crown.

A pair of Port McNeill teams squared off in the U-12 girls final, with the Beliebers topping the Divas for the title.

Round-robin play was also held in U-10, U-8 and U-6 divisions, and Port Hardy's budding stars were unveiled to the public for the first time as the under-5 tots took the field at Robert Scott Elementary Sunday afternoon.

The next opportunity for soccer action for local youths will come with the annual World Cup Soccer Camp at the North Island Secondary School field in Port McNeill, July 25-29.

Registration is now under way for the weeklong camp, with online forms at www.worldcupsoccercamp.com. Forms may be printed and dropped off at Vaso's Video in Port Hardy and at Timberland Sports in Port McNeill.

Session are available for age groups 6-8, 9-12 and 13-16.