麻豆社区

FAIRBANKS 鈥� Bailey Horte opened Team Yukon始s tournament in style Sunday at the Fairbanks Curling Club.

The 17-year-old skip overcame an early deficit to Nunavut始s Team Pinksen, scoring three straight triples with hammer to win 11-6 in eight ends.

Horte, a long-time runner-up to Yukon junior curling super麻豆社区Sarah Koltun, excelled with her draws, helping her team score three points in the fourth, sixth and eighth ends.

The final triple score drew handshakes from 14-year-old Sadie Pinksen and her team from the Iqaluit Curling Club.

Team Horte, which includes third Kelsey Meger, second Kelly Mahoney and lead Alyssa Meger, curls out of the Whitehorse Curling Club.

Down 3-2 after the first three ends, the girls cranked up the pressure to secure their first win, said coach Rhonda Horte.

"The girls played really well and were just talking about how intense they were out there,鈥� she told the Star following a post-game team meeting. "That始s great. That始s worked really well for them. If they keep up their intensity, anything can happen.鈥�

Coach Horte said the team entered their first game hoping to figure out ice conditions and remain tied through five ends. Both goals were accomplished, with an even better result.

"The first couple of ends, we were really struggling with weight,鈥� Bailey Horte explained. "After that we picked it up more and played the game we know how to play.鈥�

At the 2012 Arctic Winter Games in Whitehorse, Horte始s rink finished second after dropping the championship final 8-3 to the Northwest Territories.

Bailey Horte said the team is looking to avenge that loss in Fairbanks this week.

"We want to go for gold, obviously, really just do the best that we can do,鈥� the skip said. "Next year, at least a couple of us will probably be going to nationals ... We don始t get a lot of competition, so this will be a preparation for that.鈥�

Third Kesley Meger, 17, said it始s neat be experiencing the Arctic Winter Games with her 13-year-old sister, Alyssa.

"It始s pretty good,鈥� she laughed. "We don始t always get along, but on-ice, we seem to get along pretty well. So it始s been fun.鈥�

Nunavut始s Pinksen said she was impressed by the Yukon始s early play.

"They始re really nice, and they始re really good sports,鈥� she said. "We played them last AWG two years ago in Whitehorse, so it was nice seeing them again.

"It was kind of hard getting used to the ice,鈥� she added. "But I think we did pretty well for our first game.鈥�

For video footage of this game, visit the Whitehorse Star sports YouTube channel.

In other sports action Sunday, both Yukon volleyball teams got off to strong starts at the Arctic Winter Games.

The men始s volleyball team beat Greenland two straight, 25-16 and 25-17, while the women始s team squeaked by Nunavut 26-24 and 25-22.

Both Yukon hockey teams begin their tournaments today.