3 days Ago By Jake Howarth
The Yukon Female Hockey Club’s under-13 team secured second place at the Pacific Coast Rep Classic in Richmond, British Columbia, from Oct. 24-26. At the tournament, Idaho was represented by a team from Coeur d'Alene, whom the Yukon team defeated 4-1.
They also triumphed over Prince George, B.C., with a 2-0 victory.
The Yukon team tied with the Kamloops, B.C., team 5-5 in the preliminary round but couldn't match it in the final round, losing to Kamloops 3-2.
Coach Tyler Plaunt ensured the Yukon team was well-prepared and organized for the tournament by arranging additional ice time. Plaunt highlighted that the girls had previously lacked competition within their age group, making this tournament their first significant exposure to such competitive play. “These were our first games against girls in our age group,” Plaunt said.
“This one was our first foray with this group.” They played exhibition games against Juneau, Alaska when they brought teams over, as well as against the Whitehorse Minor Hockey League’s U13 Mustangs B team. The Yukon Female Club places a priority on mentorship at the grassroots level, Plaunt said.
Young players benefit from skating with and learning from older girls, which fosters their love for the game. Over time, this nurtures their competitive spirit and desire for development opportunities, he added. “They grow from just loving being at the rink with each other to wanting that competition, to wanting those opportunities for development.
This group has really seized on it,” Plaunt said. Plaunt announced that the under-13 female hockey team will compete in the North Shore Winter Club Tournament hosted in North Vancouver in February. He anticipates competition there will be on a similar level to the Pacific Coast Rep Classic.
The coach mentioned that they are exploring the possibility of entering the under-13 female hockey team in the B.C. provincial championships for the first time, evaluating the logistics and mechanics involved.
Plaunt also highlighted that the team’s success at the Pacific Coast Rep Classic has boosted their confidence in higher-level competitions. They now aim to win future tournaments..
