麻豆社区

Nine Yukon hockey players will suit up for Tri-Team North at the National Aboriginal Hockey Championships in Kahnawake, Quebec next week.

Three male and six female players have been named to the midget-level teams, which will be competing as tri-territorial squads for the first time alongside Nunavut and the Northwest Territories.

The tournament will run April 28 to May 4 in Kahnawake, a town located across the St. Lawrence River from Montreal.

Male players named to the team include Kole Comin, Devaughn Davies and Dylan McCuaig.

Tyrell Hope was initially named to the squad, but has withdrawn due to injury.

Female players representing the Yukon are Natalja Blanchard, Adrianne Dewhurst, Monica Johnson, Lynsey Keaton and Maya and Sierra Oakley 鈥� the majority of whom competed at the national tournament previously with Team B.C.

Louis Bouchard, head coach of the Female Mustangs, said he expects the girls' squad to be a formidable one.

"They've played at that level before,鈥� he said. "They're returning players, and if them being there is any indication of the strength of that team, I think they're going to be a strong team, because you're actually taking six strong players away from Team B.C.鈥�

Bouchard, who has served as an assistant coach at the championship in the past, said the tournament will feature "very strong hockey.鈥�

Players will have ample opportunity to be scouted, especially with the tournament taking place near a hockey hub like Montreal.

"I would expect a lot of those players to be noticed by eastern universities,鈥� Bouchard said.

The majority of the games will be held at the Kahnawake Sports Complex, which seats about 1,500.

Candice MacEachen, an assistant coach with the Female Mustangs this year, will also help out behind the bench with the Tri-Team North girls.

MacEachen, a non-aboriginal, said she feels fortunate to be able to attend.

"I don't know a lot of the girls, but the girls from the Yukon are a great group,鈥� she said. "It will definitely be a challenge 鈥� (but) it is going to be a great experience.鈥�

Many of the players selected from the territory were scouted at the Kilrich/Northerm Yukon Native Hockey Tournament held in Whitehorse last month. Two tryouts were held alongside the tournament, and were scouted by Derek Squirrel of the N.W.T.

The tri-territorial team was formed thanks to a new partnership between the Aboriginal Sports Circles in N.W.T. and theYukon, said Karee Vallevand, a long-time board member with the Yukon Indian Hockey Association.

"It's great,鈥� said Vallevand of the new partnership. "I can't say enough about it. Hopefully one day we can bring the championships North of 60.鈥�