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The female hockey team for the 2020 Arctic Winter Games in Whitehorse has been finalized. Tryouts took place in late December and head coach Candice MacEachen said the trials went well.

鈥淲e had to cut seven,鈥� said MacEachen. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 a large number for the north. It鈥檚 nice to see female hockey growing. The team is a mixture of older and younger players. Some have played in the program for years and are now 18 and returning.鈥�

Formal training has yet to begin but MacEachen said it will start picking up soon.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a different dynamic,鈥� said MacEachen. 鈥淕irls are playing Outside or in the communities.鈥�

This will not be MacEachen鈥檚 first time at the helm of the hockey team for an Arctic Winter Games and she expects tough competition this time around.

鈥淯sually Alaska is strong,鈥� said MacEachen. 鈥淣orthwest Territories are tough depending on the year. I think they are fairly young but they will come out fighting.

鈥淎rctics are a different dynamic. There is no Ontario or Quebec, or other big provinces. It depends on the year.鈥�

During the Hay River/Fort Smith 2018 Games in N.W.T. the team just missed out on a medal placing fourth after losing in a shootout.

The Yukon team has many returning veterans from those games and MacEachen said they are determined to win an ulu.

鈥淭he team is strong,鈥� said MacEachen. 鈥淓ven during tryouts, the older girls who were so close last Arctics were talking about coming out on top. We want to carry that momentum forward.鈥�

With the Games being in their home territory, MacEachen hopes the team will use the crowd to help fuel them to their goals.

鈥淭hey will have the hometown support to push them forward,鈥� said MacEachen. 鈥淭hey need to use the atmosphere in a positive way and not let things get in the way. Keep distractions to a minimum.鈥�

For a tournament like the Arctic Winter Games, where practice is at a premium, MacEachen said she isn鈥檛 worried about team chemistry.

鈥淭he good thing is most players have played together before,鈥� said MacEachen. 鈥淲e will find the lines that work, maybe combine the players from down south. Some have the ability to connect with teammates quickly. Lots of the girls have good hockey sense.

鈥淏ehind the scenes, we are figuring out what we think we will work and when the team is on the ice we will work out the kinks.鈥�

The team was determined on how the individual athletes ranked during player evaluations. MacEachen said this could lead to positional cross-over but she isn鈥檛 worried.

鈥淚t鈥檚 sometimes tough because you can end up with eight centres,鈥� said MacEachen. 鈥淢ost are willing to adjust for the team to succeed.鈥�

For those wanting to watch the hockey, MacEachen outlined what the fans can expect from Team Yukon.

鈥淚t is a well-rounded team,鈥� said MacEachen. 鈥淲e have solid forwards, defence and goaltending. I鈥檓 positive they will put up a great performance.

鈥淭hey are going to put up a fight until the end. They are a strong determined team that wants a medal.鈥�

MacEachen said the team is proud to wear the Yukon jersey and wants the team to embrace everything the Games have to offer.

鈥淓verything is in Whitehorse everything will be in one place,鈥� said MacEachen. 鈥淭hey will have a chance to watch other sports and the cultural events. The Arctics are about building relationships and making friendships. It鈥檚 the whole package.鈥�

Female hockey at the Arctics is a junior tournament. Each team is comprised of up to 17 players and two coaches.

Teams will participate in a round-robin tournament to determine seeding for medal-round pairings and then playoffs.