Ross River has had a rough go of late.

The village of 300 people lost its community arena – known affectionately as the "big blue building” – in a March 10th fire.

Despite the devastating effects the disaster had on the community, three Ross River hockey teams still managed to compete in the 34th Annual Yukon Native Hockey Tournament held in Whitehorse over the weekend.

Ross River was represented in the Old Timers, Youth and B Divisions of the tourney.

"I thought we wouldn't be able to play anymore,” said 13-year-old Jack Ladue, who played for the East Central Wild Ones. "But we had new gear and everything. It felt really weird the first day I tried it.”

Ross River's appearance took a little help from some friends, true.

Mining companies such as Selwyn Resources Ltd. and Yukon Zinc, outside and southern communities and Lion's Clubs and Elk Clubs came to the aid of the Ross River players by providing shiny, new hockey gear, since the community's equipment was stored in the rink when it burned.

"A whole bunch of communities helped us, it was pretty good,” said Ladue, who has played in the tournament for four years now.

Gordon Peter wouldn't miss an edition of the native hockey tournament for the world.

The 54-year-old has competed in all 34 installments of the tourney.

This year, the Ross River Renegades of the Old Timers Division drew the best result for the town – a second place behind the Arrows after a 7-4 final game.

"When the fire started in the morning everybody was there at 4:30 looking at it,” Peter said. "It was a big loss. We didn't figure we could make it down to the tournament. But thanks a lot to the mining companies that helped us out.”

The community pulled together to continue practising in the lead up to the tournament by playing on a "small, little pond” outside town, he noted.

"We shoveled that off and we skated there to play here,” Peter said, adding that players also traveled to Faro Tuesdays and Thursdays to play.

Teammate Wayne Risby, 48, has also been a part of the Ross River team since the tournament began in 1977, when he was 14 years old.

"I think it shows a lot of character for everyone, and all the help that everyone put in to getting the equipment for all the young guys and the older guys,” said Risby, who dedicated his performance to his father, Pete, a mainstay in the Ross River hockey culture who passed away on Feb. 27.

"Playing the way we did today is really good for the community's morale after having something like that happen…it'll rejuvenate people to be interested and really work hard to get something back in there so the kids will have something to do again next year and the years to come.”

Yukoner Jarrett Deuling, who hoisted the Memorial Cup as captain of the Kamloops Blazers, also came out of retirement to donate his services to the Renegades.

But he did more than that.

Deuling, who operates Deuling Stone Outfitters in Faro, just north of Ross River, also enlisted the help of his friend, a trainer for the Ottawa Senators, to get some equipment for the team.

"I owe him a moose hunt now, but it was well worth it,” Deuling said.

"It was such a horrible deal…it's an absolute shame. I was just happy to help out any way I could; I was able to get a bunch of equipment and stuff for the guys,” he said, adding that people can donate funds at the Bank of Montreal.

"Every little bit helps – whether it's $10 or $100 – it sure would be good if people could help out, because they really need that facility back, especially the youth centre.”

Efforts are ongoing to bring a facility back to Ross River.