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Photo by Marcel Vander Wier

HEROIC EFFORTS 鈥 Above: Black Widows goaltender Amy Gill smiles after making a save versus the Wonder Women during the championship game of the Whitehorse Women's Chrismukahanza Hockey Jamboree, played Saturday at Takhini Arena. Below: Laura Grieve, right, shoots the puck past defender Candice MacEachen (6). Grieve finished the tournament with 17 points.

Black Widows shut out Wonder Women to win jamboree

The Black Widows weaved together some magic Saturday, knocking off the only unbeaten team in the championship game to win the fourth annual Whitehorse

By Marcel Vander Wier on December 10, 2012

The Black Widows weaved together some magic Saturday, knocking off the only unbeaten team in the championship game to win the fourth annual Whitehorse

Women's Chrismukahanza Hockey Jamboree.

Powered by goaltender Amy Gill, the Black Widows downed the Wonder Women 3-0 at Takhini Arena to win the unique jamboree trophy 鈥 made up of a skate, a stick, two foil-wrapped pucks and a golden bra.

An unassisted first period goal by Danielle Hodgson, followed by a quick strike by Cheri Malo, assisted by Laura Grieve, gave the Black Widows an early lead that they would not relinquish.

Vanessa Bogaert would add a late insurance goal in the third period, from Hodgson.

"We started off a little rocky,鈥 Gill said after the final. "We've really grown as a team over the course of the weekend. It feels great. I'm really proud of what we accomplished.鈥

Gill was named top goalie of the tournament, which saw players from Haines Junction and Dawson City compete at Takhini Arena.

"It's an opportunity for the ladies to play with their friends, because they won't necessarily be on the same teams in the league,鈥 she said. "And then the girls that aren't registered or couldn't make the commitment still get opportunities like this to come out and play for a weekend.鈥

The tournament saw competition between small teams of 10, which helped promote player development, Gill said.

"It was a good opportunity for a lot of the girls, because they're getting more puck time than they would necessarily in the league,鈥 she said. "It was really good for that.鈥

League teams are comprised of 16 players this season.

The Wonder Women were undefeated going into the final, beating the Black Widows 6-4 in their round-robin matchup.

On the other hand, the Atomic Betties secured their first win of the weekend in the third-place game, edging the Vixens 5-4.

"That was our closest game,鈥 said Wonder Women's Stephanie Hammond of the championship match. "We knew it was going to be a challenge. It's an intense tournament.

"You get in a groove and develop a lot of relationships with quite a range of players.鈥

Black Widows' Grieve had an outstanding tournament, including a five-goal outburst in a 9-1 round-robin game against the Atomic Betties.

"It was fun to be out with a bunch of great girls,鈥 Grieve said following the final.

"It's pretty awesome to win. It's been a lot of fun.鈥

Grieve piled up 17 points in five games over the weekend, besting her points total of 16 in 12 rec league games this season.

"I think all of our hearts were in it,鈥 Grieve said of the jamboree. "We just played really great. We stepped it up. The girls have been great and we gelled.鈥

Grieve grew up playing rep hockey in B.C., and after spending 10 years away from the game, began playing rec hockey in Whitehorse after moving here three years ago.

"It's been so much fun,鈥 she said. "I've fallen in love with the game again.鈥

Individual awards were handed out at a banquet following the jamboree.

Top point-getters and team MVPs were Grieve (Black Widows), Kylie Bird (Wonder Women), Susan Hamilton (Atomic Betties) and Joelle Hodgins (Vixens).

Most Sportsmanlike Awards were given to Helen McCullough (Black Widows), Tyya Wilkinson (Wonder Women), Jenny Cretney (Atomic Betties) and Ali Nordahl (Vixens).

Nordahl, 13, was the tournament's youngest participant, while 56-year-old Lindy Jo-Aston was rewarded for being the oldest player.

Skills competition winners were as follows: Beer Pyramids 鈥 Candice MacEachen and Vanessa Bogaert; Obstacle Course 鈥 Candice MacEachen; Hells Bells 鈥 V茅ro Theriault; Superman 鈥 V茅ro Theriault; Can Shooting 鈥 Vanessa Bogaert,

Stephanie Hammond, Nancy Pumphrey, Kylie Bird and Tanya Ordish; Bra Toss 鈥 Tanya Ordish.

The jamboree did prove costly for the rec league's Green Beasts, currently tied for first with Red Dragon. Both Megan Moore and Christine Kirk suffered lower-body injuries that will cause them to miss action.

Rec league action resumes tomorrow with Black Ice facing Blue Rodeo at the Canada Games Centre. Game time is 9 p.m.

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