AFN Storm tasted sweet victory as the inaugural winners of the Women's Division at the Yukon Native Hockey Tournament on Sunday at Takhini Arena in Whitehorse.

The Storm "stormed" out to a lead only 51 seconds into the game, with Kyra McDonald notching the goal.

The first period ended with the Storm up 1-0.

Shakita Jensen added to the Storm lead with 5:41 left in the second on an unassisted effort, as she knocked the puck off of a Cougar player's stick and into the net.

Cougar goalie Kim Stavert came up with a big save on a breakaway with about 30 seconds left in the second to keep the game close.

The Storm essentially put the game away with 14:18 to go in the third, with Chantelle Rivest doing the damage this time to put the Storm up 3-0.

McDonald notched her second goal of the game on another unassisted effort with about 13:30 left in the third, making the final score 4-0 Storm.

The Star spoke with Storm assistant captain Davina McLeod, the Womens Division's top scorer, after their big win.

"It's so incredible to be the first women's team to place first in this tournament. I've been coming to this tournament for over a decade and it's always meant so much to me as an Indigenous woman's hockey player … it's just absolutely unbelievable and a dream come true."

McLeod said the key to victory was a "good attitude, keeping our feet moving, being confident in how we play and our ability to make those passes and get those shots on net, and just stay out of the box."

McLeod added, "Our goalie got a shutout for the entire tournament, which is incredible."

Gerry Rivest and Rose Kushniruk were the coaches. The Star spoke with Rivest after their victory.

"I feel good. I was very fortunate when they picked this team, there was a bunch of girls who had played some university hockey and we're trying to build this sport. For years and years, we've been trying to get a women's division and always had to play with the guys, and finally this year, when there was actually going to be a five-team division.

"We were pretty excited, because we've got a lot of talent in this town, and there's a lot of talent in the Yukon, girls that can play, and now they've got somewhere to play."

When asked about the key to the Storm's victory, Rivest pointed out that some of the other women's teams didn't have coaches.

"You need somebody on the bench to take care of the little things, so that the team can just go and take care of the game itself, and that's my job.

"These girls have all played at a high level, so they know how to play."

Rivest said the players checking their egos at the door is also a key to being successful in a short tournament in which star players have to take on roles they're not accustomed to playing.

He also regretted having to beat a couple teams by the mercy rule (an eight-goal lead), but had his own rule for that.

"We said if we can keep it down below six (goals), we'll stay there, and if it starts to run, we'll mercy them."

"We had a bunch of these girls that played together in their respective communities, so we matched those lines up.

"The bottom line is … it should be called 'speed' instead of hockey. It's a game of speed and we had that."

Rivest said Storm goalie Ali Kieren earned high praise for her efforts while not allowing a single goal all tournament, including a couple of Whitehorse goalies who said "Wow, is she ever good."

Rivest said Kieren's body positioning was a key. "She was square to the puck all the time.

"She was vocal back there. Just that confidence, gave the girls confidence."

Kieren said "It was definitely a whole team effort. I don't think anybody can say it was just on me or on any of the players who scored the individual goals. We played as a team right from the get-go and none of us have necessarily been here that long, so it was awesome that we all just came together, we jelled pretty quickly and we just ran with it. It was really awesome."

Kieren said her team's offensive support was a big key to her success.

"Even on our penalty kills, we were like, on the power play … it made my job very easy for the weekend."

As for next year, Kieren said "I hope to be invited back. That would be awesome. I'd love to come out and have the pleasure of playing with all these amazing women again."

Rivest said of his team before the tourney, "As long as they come to play, and give me a first effort and a second effort, we're gonna be fine. They bought into that."

Rivest also looked at the big picture regarding the tournament.

"If we're gonna develop this game for our youth in the Yukon – which we are and doing a really good job – we need to get more coaches involved with our young women – our youth period, and then we teach the ambassadorship of the game. Very important. That's mostly what this weekend's about, also."

Rivest added having his daughter Chantelle playing on the team was special, as well as celebrating his birthday Saturday with the team before their big victory Sunday.

Of note is that McDonald was named Women's Division MVP, while her father, Tim "Flash" Gordon of the K&D Outlaws, who won the B Division, was also named MVP of that Division.

Nationals three-peat in Oldtimer's Division at Native hockey tourney

In the Oldtimers Division final Sunday, the Nationals dominated the Kaska Warriors, winning 5-0.

The Oldtimers led 1-0 after one on the strength of a goal by Lance Brown with 9:51 left.

Gus Morberg added to the National's lead with 3:17 left in the second period. They took a 2-0 lead into the dressing room.

The Nationals broke the game open in the third period.

Pujjuut Kusugak scored with 14:17 left.

Jamie Cairns made it 4-0 with 10:17 left in the third.

Kusugak struck again less than a minute later to round out the scoring and make the final 5-0 Nationals.

Brown contributed two assists as well.

The Star spoke with the National's Peter Johnstone after the game.

"This is our third win in a row. Last time we won, I was 46 and now I'm 50.

"I was kind of worried about how the team would come together but we had to pull it together and we did and I'm just happy to be here and thankful that the tournament's back. It's great to see so many people come.

"Just gotta thank our team. It takes a team to win it. It's not an individual sport and we played well right from the start.

"We're at the Native Hockey Tournament. It's the biggest showcase for us here in the north and this is my Stanley Cup. To win it three times in a row, I can retire now and be happy."

Johnstone said the key to victory was "great goaltending, some timely scoring. It's always a cliche, working together as a team. We let some turnovers happen but we capitalized on them when we had the chance and I think at the end of the day that's all you can do, is score when you have to score.

"It's a tough game. This is getting pretty competitive now. You have to either swim with the sharks or prepare to get eaten, so not too fond of getting chewed up here, so it's all good."

The Nationals' goalie, Dan Carefoot, earned the shutout.

"All we need is solid goaltending," said Johnstone. "You don't have to be spectacular, you just have to be solid. And Dan was awesome."

Johnstone said the overall tournament went "very good. It's all about the team."

Johnstone also thanked his sponsors for supplying the team with jerseys and extra swag, like hats.

"We don't pay our players to come. We just play – we want to play the game. Most guys are just here to play the game. They love the game, they're veterans of the sport and they have a thirst for winning, too."

Here's how the rest of the finals in the other divisions played out Saturday and Sunday:

A Division: North Yukon Eagles 6, LJ's Sabres 2

B Division: K&D Outlaws 4, Tahltan Bear Dogz 3

C Division: Saw-Tooth Predators 3, Kaska Grizzlies 2

Jamboree A: IDC Jr. Huskies 6, Tahltan Selects 5

Jamboree B: TH Wolfpack 6, Klabona Icons 1

Youth: Gwich'in Warriors 8, CYI Raiders 1

Award winners are as follows:

A Division:

MVP: Rylee Zimmer – LJ’s Sabres
Top Scorer: Dylan Soosay – North Yukon Eagles
Best Defence: Jake Lee – North Yukon Eagles
Best Goalie: Josh Tetlichi – North Yukon Eagles

B Division:

MVP: Tim Gordon – K&D Outlaws
Top Scorer: Kona Jackson – Canyon City Warriors
Best Defence: Kevin Krengnaktak – Malena Selects
Best Goalie: Kenny Semmier – K&D Outlaws

C Division:

MVP: Blake Asp – Saw-Tooth Predators
Top Scorer: Kyle Bierlmeir – Saw-Tooth Predators
Best Defence: Tynan Hope – KDFN Predators
Best Goalie: Chris Obradovich – Saw-Tooth Predators

Oldtimers Division:

MVP: Kevin McNabb – Kaska Warriors
Top Scorer: Jamie Porter Sr. – Kaska Warriors
Best Defence: Billy Powers – Kaska Warriors
Best Goalie: Allen Billy – Kaska Warriors

Women's Division:

MVP: Kyra McDonald – AFN Storm
Top Scorer: Davina McLeod – AFN Storm
Best Defence: Krystal McKenna – Cougars
Best Goalie: Ali Kieren – AFN Storm

Overall Adult Awards:

Most Sportsmanlike Team:
Tahltan Silvertips – OT’s Division – Tahltan Nation

Most Inspirational Player:
Adrianna Dewhurst – Cougars – Women's Division

Most Improved Team: Nisutlin Knights – Women’s Division

Jean Gleason Memorial “Hockey” Mom Award:
Amanda Johnson – Liard First Nation

Leadership Award: Malachi LaVallee – Teslin Tlingit Council

Jamboree A Division:

MVP: Kealan Basnett – North Yukon Eagles
Top Scorer: Jase Johnstone – Tahltan Selects
Best Defence: Ethan Hamilton – IDC Jr. Huskies
Best Goalie: Jacob Donner – Tahltan Selects

Jamboree B Division:

MVP: Kayden Knutson -TH Wolfpack
Top Scorer: Rocky Nordvie – Kaska Warriors
Best Defence: Andie Louie – Klabona Icons
Best Goalie: Darius McLeod-Wierda – T.H. Wolfpack

Youth Division:

MVP: Brock Luntz – Gwich’in Warriors
Top Scorer: Brock Luntz – Gwich’in Warriors
Best Defence: Casey McKenna – CYI Raiders
Best Goalie: Harrison Dodling – CYI Raiders

Overall Winners – Youth/Jamboree:

Team Spirit Award: CYI Raiders
Most Sportsmanlike Player: Claire Letedre – Jr. Hawks