麻豆社区

The Deer River Slashers successfully defended their 2012 Yukon Native Hockey Tournament title, beating the EGT Nanooks 4-2 in the A division final last night.

The Fort Nelson-based team scored two third-period goals to win their second-consecutive championship in front of a packed house at Takhini Arena.

The game was the last of five straight championship games, and marked the conclusion of the 36th annual native hockey tournament.

"This is something we look forward to all year,鈥� said Slashers captain Ryan Dickie.

"I've never seen anything like it. I've been to quite a few tournaments over the years and this is the one you look forward to. So to win it 鈥� that's just something extra special.鈥�

Dickie said the team was assembled last-minute, but it worked out as the Slashers went undefeated through the tournament.

"I couldn't be happier with the way it worked out,鈥� he told the Star. "It feels good.鈥�

Ty Gullickson was outstanding in goal, while former major junior and East Coast league blueliner Clay Plume was a rock on defence.

Plume scored the game winner, and added an assist in the final.

"To have him come back helped us out a lot,鈥� said Dickie.

Slashers defenceman DJ McDougall added an insurance marker late in the game to seal the win.

Dickie dedicated the tournament win to the late Fort Nelson doctor Al Kassa, who died recently.

"He was a big part of our lives growing up, so we were playing a little extra hard for him,鈥� Dickie explained. "Our community is in mourning, so we wanted to give them something to cheer about.鈥�

Former AHL player Darren Reid played for the Nanooks, who were coached by former NHL player John Chabot.

Reid said the A division was a competitive one.

"It was very well put together,鈥� he said. "The organizers obviously know what they're doing. It was very competitive and there was a lot of good teams. We knew it was going to be a battle today.鈥�

Aklavik Outlaws edge Selkirk Bears in B division final

Elton Ruben scored a hat trick to lift the Outlaws over the Bears 5-4 in the B division final.

"We traveled a long ways and came here to have fun, but this win means a lot,鈥� Ruben said post-game. "It's a big relief. We didn't know if we were going to win, but we just gave it our best. We're all excited.鈥�

The Northwest Territories team was made up of players from a variety of communities.

The Outlaws beat the Bears 5-4 in a shootout in their round-robin matchup.

Bears forward William Dickson said it was hard to end the season as the runner-up team.

"We played a good game and it was really close,鈥� said Dickson, who scored two goals in the loss. "It could've went either way.鈥�

Trevor Hannah and Zack Moses also scored for the Selkirk Bears, a club based out of Pelly Crossing.

Oldtimer Kaska Warriors pummel North Yukon Eagles

The Kaska Warriors handed the North Yukon Eagles a 10-4 loss in the oldtimer final.

Billy Carifelle led the way with four goals, while High Prairie's Lorne L'Hirondelle had a hat trick and one assist.

The Watson Lake-based team went undefeated through the tournament.

"It was great,鈥� said L'Hirondelle. "Everybody came together right off the bat. It was a dominant win and it was awesome.鈥�

"They were battling all weekend,鈥� said L'Hirondelle of the Old Crow-based Eagles.

"This was their second game today and we just happened to catch them on the wrong time. It's all bragging rights and we've got a year of bragging.鈥�

Eagles forward Greg Charlie said fatigue was definitely a factor, as his club played six games over the tournament.

"We had a close game with Kaska yesterday, but today we just ran out of gas in the last two periods,鈥� Charlie said.

North Yukon lost to Kaska 7-5 in the semifinal.

The Eagles, formerly an A division team, decided to compete in the oldtimers division to keep the team alive for the up-and-coming youth players from Old Crow.

"We convinced a bunch of guys to start skating again this year, and it was great,鈥� Charlie said. "This tournament is awesome. It brings out people, family, community people all together and everybody's having fun.鈥�

Liam Kossman scores twice as Tahltan Selects win jamboree

Smithers forward Liam Kossman scored two goals, including the game winner to lead the Tahltan Selects to the Jamboree championship, 4-3 over the Inland Tlingit Warriors.

The goals won him MVP honours for the tournament.

"I've never won one of these things before, so it was a bit of a surprise to me,鈥� Kossman admitted after the game.

"I'm pretty proud of my team. It means a lot to win this tournament.鈥�

Kossman said he came into the tournament not knowing any of his teammates, and left after three days with a room full of new friends.

"They're all my best friends,鈥� he said. "They're a great group of guys and a bunch of good hockey players. I love these guys.鈥�

Tyrell Miller and Wyatt Gale also scored in the win, while Tyler Charlie, Malachi LaValee and Mike Arnold responded for the defending champion Warriors.

"We didn't have that secondary scoring,鈥� explained Warriors forward Jamie Tetlichi.

"We only had one line that was working and we didn't bear down in the end.鈥�

He said the tournament was a lot of fun, as each of the local players were able to show the crowds what they can do.

"This is where I first started hockey,鈥� Tetlichi said. "Everyone looks forward to playing in this tournament at the end of the year.鈥�

Jonas Leas leads Wolverines to youth championship

The Whitehorse Wolverines ended a spectacular tournament with a 5-1 win over the Old Crow-based Gwich'in Braves in the youth final.

Team captain and top scorer Jonas Leas led the way with a goal and three assists, while Jared Morgan added a goal and two assists. Mathew Cooper also scored a goal and added an assist.

The Wolverines were a bigger, stronger team and mercied two teams en route to the final 鈥� despite playing with only eight skaters.

"It's a really big deal,鈥� said Leas, who played this season out of Vancouver's North Shore Winter Club. "This tournament has tradition and it's just a really great feeling to win it. This is a great icing on the cake.鈥�

The 13-year-old said the chemistry of playing together since 2008 really helped his team come together quickly.

"We benefited from mercying the first two teams, so we only played half games,鈥� said coach Edwin Vanderkley.

The Wolverines opened their tournament by beating the Fort McPherson Gwich'in Flames and Dawson City Wolf Pack by identical 8-0 scorelines.

The Wolverines team formed four years ago and the core of the team will graduate to the jamboree level next year.

Despite the final score, Braves coach Ron Daub said he was proud of his team. He said the Wolverines were just too dominant.

"We were just trying to stay in the game,鈥� Daub said. "A couple of letdowns, but everybody got to play so we were quite happy.

"This is the highlight of my year,鈥� he added. "I've been doing this since 2000, and this is the biggest event in Whitehorse. It brings kids from Outside and down south and really strengthens the community of Whitehorse. This tournament is well run and we look forward to it every year.鈥�