Photo by Photo submitted
BRAVE GUY IN THE MIDDLE 鈥� Haines Junction player Jay Symanski dribbles between Yukon Outfitters defenders Alex Petriw and Ben Kishchuk (left). SLIDE TACKLE 鈥� Callum Weir of Haines Junction makes a play. Photos courtesy of CRAIG NICHOLS
Young soccer players from across the territory gathered in Haines Junction this weekend to compete for cross-field supremacy at the Under-11 outdoor championships.
Young soccer players from across the territory gathered in Haines Junction this weekend to compete for cross-field supremacy at the Under-11 outdoor championships.
In the end, it was the Whitehorse-based Yukon Outfitters who emerged victorious, beating Dawson City 8-1 to win gold.
Ben Kischuk scored five goals in that gold medal game to take top-scoring honours away from teammate Alex Petriw, who had eight throughout the tournament.
Outfitters coach Doug Petriw said it was his non-rep players who stepped up to give his team the win, however.
In total, 34 players gathered for the competition, including two teams from Whitehorse Minor Soccer, one from Haines Junction, and Dawson City.
The tournament organizing committee chose to ensure each team had six "solid players鈥� in order to keep the tournament fair.
Yukon Outfitters went unbeaten on the weekend, emerging 5-0. Dawson finished 3-2.
Haines Junction won bronze with an overall record of 2-3, while Home Sweet Home Baking from Whitehorse finished 0-5.
Haines Junction beat Home Sweet Home 4-2 in the bronze medal game.
"Dawson City's team has grown and played together for many years, and this year it paid off,鈥� said organizer Cindi Cowie, of the Haines Junction Soccer Club. "All and all, the kids had fun and enjoyed an active weekend playing the beautiful game.鈥�
The tournament ran Saturday and Sunday morning.
Cowie said the tournament would not have happened without financial assistance from Yukon Lotteries, the Culture, Parks and Recreation Committee of Haines Junction, and the local Lions club.
She also thanked the parents, coaches, players and volunteers for dedicating their time and energy to sport during a warm and busy Yukon weekend.
The weekend also featured a variety of Under-7 fun scrimmages, as well as a fun game between parents, coaches and referees and a barbecue Saturday night.
In a skills competition for players, youngster Joe Hanson wowed the crowd by completing 130 simultaneous ball juggles.
The outdoor soccer league season is already wrapping up for the year. The Under-9 and Under-10 championships were held last weekend.
The Whitehorse Under-11 league featured six teams this season.
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