The 16th Whitehorse Women's Hockey Jamboree is taking place this weekend.

The jamboree will feature eight teams.

All games will take place Friday evening and Saturday at the Canada Games Centre (CGC) on the ATCO and Northwestel rinks.

The Star spoke with Lorianne Leblanc, events director for the Whitehorse Women's Hockey Association board, about the event Thursday.

"I am feeling really enthusiastic and I think it's going to be a great turnout. Already we have doubled the teams from last year, which I think is a positive thing.

"But because it's our sweet 16 year we have lots of fun things planned so I'm really excited. We have a banquet and we've got a theme going and so it's 'dressed as you were when you were 16'. So we'll see people from different decades.

"Not only is it a hockey tournament, but I think it's a great way for our women's community and also non-binary to get together. And have a great time and socialize as well."

The Whitehorse Women's Hockey Association itself started 16 years ago, hence the Sweet 16 theme. According to LeBlanc, women's hockey actually started years earlier with two teams competing.

LeBlanc herself only started playing last year in Whitehorse after moving from Nova Scotia.

"I just can't believe how amazing this community and how many people are involved and the skill levels of the women's hockey is here. So I had to be involved."

Players from the communities were invited as well.

"People come from everywhere in the Yukon for this event," said LeBlanc, who's "quite excited" about the increase in teams this year.

Players have to be 18 and over to play in the jamboree.

"There are people from all ages," said LeBlanc. "And not only is it women of all ages, and non-binary players in our league and our subdivisions but also we have refs as well and timekeepers that are women as well from all ages."

"We just want to give the opportunity to have a place for women's hockey to grow and as you can see, it definitely has.

"This'll be our big tournament this weekend and we're really excited about it."

All the jamboree teams' names feature movies from the past, including Ferris Bueller, Outsiders, Breakfast Club, Dirty Dancing and Mean Girls. LeBlanc explained how that came about.

"It was just a discussion between a few board members and it just seemed like a fun way to go. So we're basically reminiscing about like, 'What did we do when we were 16? What were we watching?' And that's how it came about and so we tried to get some from different decades.

"The banquet dinner and the dance will have some decorations as well that fits the theme."

The jamboree isn't based on regular WWHA league teams.

"We tried to divide the teams up as evenly as possible and skill levels so that it makes fun, competitive games," said LeBlanc.

The jamboree is also split into two divisions.

"The only reason there's two divisions is because each team is playing about four games so we had to make it that format so that everyone could play," explained LeBlanc.

A skills competition is scheduled for the ATCO ice at CGC Saturday at 11:30 a.m.

"We did that last year as well and it was a good turnout, so anyone can participate," said LeBlanc.

"There are some participation awards and different things but it's a good way to see like, 'Oh, how fast do I skate or how fast is my shot' or that sort of thing. So it's a really fun way to incorporate something different into the tournament format."

Any player from the eight teams in the tournament can compete in the skills competition.

There is also a community ice time scheduled Saturday from 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. on the Northwestel ice. This is for Yukon community jamboree players who don't have ice in their communities yet to get in some extra ice time.

As far as prizes go, LeBlanc said athletes participating will be in for a surprise.

"There's no prize money but there's definitely some fun surprise gifts and prizes that are either gift cards or different funny gifts, so people will have to wait and see to see what that is.

"There's going to be heart and hustle type of awards and different things. So we go all out."

LeBlanc was asked why they hold the jamboree.

"Probably just for fun. And it's a great way for us to all get together and we're all on the same teams all year. But this is a great way to play with somebody that you usually play against and get to know them a different way. So it just provides a different option and most people who play in these tournaments, I think, enjoy them. I know I do. I really enjoy it. So I'll be playing as well."

The public is welcome to come out and take in the action. There are no admission fees.

"It is going to be pretty good hockey," said LeBlanc. "We'll be playing on both surfaces at the CGC between approximately five to 10 o'clock in the evening on Friday, as well as all day 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, both ice surfaces as well."