麻豆社区

It was a fitting end for a hockey tournament that went all out to honour one of its own.

Ryan Gleason, the 32-year-old son of the late Sandi Gleason, took home MVP honours in the A division after a memorable performance that saw him net a hat trick in the semifinals to power the CAFN Storm into the championship game.

While his club ultimately lost the final 8-3 to the EGT鈥圢anooks, Gleason鈥檚 impressive semifinal performance against the Lower Post Eagles left an impression on organizers.

After Gleason buried his third goal in the eventual 7-3 win, he kissed the ribbon honouring his mother that covered his heart and pointed to the sky.

鈥淟ower Post was turning it around in that one,鈥� the burly forward said of his emotional celebration following his hat trick goal. 鈥淚t was a big pass by Eddie (Long).鈥�

The jerseys of the old-timer Whitehorse Arrows 鈥� which included Gleason鈥檚 father, Rick Smith 鈥� also sported the ribbon patch on the shoulder.

鈥淚t represents all cancers,鈥� Gleason said of the ribbon.

Gleason, who wears No. 22 in honour of his mom, said while he held his emotions in check for most of the tournament, he nearly 鈥渓ost it鈥� in the handshake line following the final.

Gleason said his mom, who lost her battle with cancer Dec. 24, 2013 at the age of 49, had a vision of a hockey tournament like this.

鈥淲e started out with two youth teams,鈥濃�坔e said of his mom鈥檚 efforts to include a youth division. 鈥淎nd look what it is now.鈥�

Gleason鈥檚 younger brother, Chris Gleason, was unable to play for the Storm in the final as he needed to return to school.

The tournament is an annual highlight for the hundreds of players who converge on the Yukon capital.

鈥淭his is the year-ender for a lot of us,鈥濃�坰aid 38-year-old B division player JJ Lutz of the Lower Post Eagles.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a big thing. A lot of people come out to watch and it鈥檚 fun. You see a lot of people from all over and it鈥檚 happy times.鈥�

Individual award winners at the 38th Kilrich/Northerm Yukon Native Hockey Tournament are as follows:

A DIVISION

MVP:鈥圧yan Gleason (CAFN鈥圫torm)
Top Scorer:鈥圕ody Pederson (EGT鈥圢anooks)
Best Defence: Jared Tuton (CAFN鈥圫torm)
Best Goalie: Deven Dubyk (EGT鈥圢anooks)

B DIVISION

MVP:鈥圖ylan Apsassin (Lower Post Eagles)
Top Scorer:鈥圡ike Arnold (Inland Tlingit Warriors)
Best Defence: John Apsassin (Inland Tlingit Warriors)
Best Goalie: Kris Joyce (Lower Post Eagles)

C DIVISION

MVP:鈥圓lexander Skinner (PCM)
Top Scorer:鈥圖ennis Gordon (Dease Lake Mooseheads)
Best Defence: Dang Dang Gruben (PCM)
Best Goalie: Joshua Kontagonis (Dease Lake Mooseheads)

OLD-TIMER

MVP:鈥圕larence Roulette (Kaska Warriors)
Top Scorer:鈥圕larence Roulette (Kaska Warriors)
Best Defence: Frank Roberts (Kaska Warriors)
Best Goalie: Matt Wealick (CA鈥圔ruins)

JAMBOREE

MVP:鈥圝onas Leas (Jr. Inland Tlingit Warriors)
Top Scorer:鈥圵estin Creyke (Tahltan Selects)
Best Defence: Mathew Cooper (Jr. Inland Tlingit Warriors)
Best Goalie: Josh Tetlichi (Gwich鈥檌n Spitfires)

YOUTH

MVP:鈥圞aien Tait (Gwich鈥檌n Braves)
Top Scorer:鈥圞aien Tait (Gwich鈥檌n Braves)
Best Defence: Zoe Leas (Gwich鈥檌n Braves)
Best Goalie: Torin Comiskey (Jr. Tahltan Selects)
Most Sportsmanlike Player: Richard Scarff (KDFN鈥圥redators)
Team Spirit Award: Carmacks 鈥楲il鈥� Wild Ones

OTHER

Most Sportsmanlike Team:鈥圛skut Wolverines (C division)
Most Inspirational Player: Stephanie Charlie (AK鈥圞nights, C division)
Most Improved Team: Tahltan Bear Dogz (B division)
Most Dedicated Hockey Mom:鈥圡ina McLeod (Aklavik, N.W.T.)
Leadership Award: Don Magun (Kaska Warriors)