Whitehorse Daily Star

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Photo by Marcel Vander Wier

GIRL POWER – Female Mustangs player Jaime King, left, escapes the clutches of opponent Vanessa Bogaert to get a shot on goal during the senior-level Long Game finale held Saturday at the Canada Games Centre.

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Photo by Marcel Vander Wier

SHOOT TO THRILL – Sierra Oakley fires a shot on net Saturday during the national Long Game finale.

Marathon women’s game ends with 33-25 score

Despite the best efforts of the speedy Female Mustangs Saturday,

By Marcel Vander Wier on October 14, 2014

Despite the best efforts of the speedy Female Mustangs Saturday, they were unable to overcome a lopsided score line during the nationwide Long Game.

While the red-jerseyed Mustangs beat a local women’s select team 3-1 during their match, the score of the senior-level Long Game ended 33-25 in favour of Team White.

Thirteen-year-old Maddie Nicholson scored twice to lead the Mustangs, while Hannah Nordlund scored the last goal of the marathon event on a beautiful backhand deke in the third period.

Tshayla Nothstein had the lone goal for the senior select squad.

“It was really interesting to be a part of such a big game,” the 16-year-old Nordlund said following the contest. “And it was really cool to score the last goal.”

Prior to the game – held during World Girls’ Hockey Weekend – the Mustangs held back-to-back on-ice practices.

Then before starting the game, the Mustangs thought they were up 32-22.

“Then we realized we were guests,” Nordlund laughed. “We just did our best and it turned out to be fun.”

Coach Louis Bouchard said the Mustangs chose to wear their red jerseys long before the game. The rival women’s team wore the Mustangs’ white jerseys for the event.

Prior to the closing game in Whitehorse, senior women’s games were held in St. Johns, Halifax, Pownal, P.E.I., River Valley, N.B., Gatineau, Que., Mississauga, Ont., Winnipeg, and Airdrie, Alta.

Cumulative game scores also took place for atom, peewee, bantam and midget-aged players.

The first puck drop occurred between red and white atom teams in Stephensville, Nfld. at 9:30 a.m. local time.

Now in its fourth season, the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) developed World Girls’ Hockey Weekend as a means to grow the game at all levels.

An introductory skills clinic for girls new to the game was also planned for Saturday, but did not happen due to lack of participants.

Bouchard said he hopes to reschedule the event for a later date.

It’s a big season for the local girls rep team, he added.

“It’s a busy year for us getting ready for Canada Games,” Bouchard said. “Our goal is to play in Tier 1 this year. ... At Christmas, we’re going to Langley for a tournament where we’re registering in Tier 1. We believe we’ll be ready.”

The Canada Winter Games team headed to Prince George, B.C., will include players from across the Yukon.

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