Whitehorse’s three hockey rinks were abuzz with hockey action over the weekend.

Fourteen teams from across western Canada and Alaska played down for medals in three divisions in the 2015 International Showdown at Takhini Arena and the Canada Games Centre Dec. 4 to 6.

The tournament put the territory on the hockey map, said Hockey Yukon president Russ Smoler, who admitted he was shocked to see seven teams competing in the midget category.

“There aren’t a lot of midget opportunities,” he said. “We offer three 20-minute stop-time periods early in the year and the opportunity to play midget contact hockey.

“Those three things are a pretty good hook for us.”

Discounted rates on airfare and hotels didn’t hurt either, said Smoler, who thanked the generosity of local sponsors.

The Yellowknife Wolfpack had a strong showing, with their bantam and peewee teams taking home gold.

The organization was denied a tournament sweep by the U16 Yukon Mustangs, however. (See story, above.)

In the bantam final, Yellowknife routed Alaska’s Mat-Su Eagles 8-2 thanks to a natural third period hat trick by Kerian Kobaissi.

“This is a class-act tournament that Whitehorse puts on every year,” said Wolfpack coach Brad Anstey. “Every time we come here, we’re treated really well. ... The competition wasn’t as strong as I thought it was going to be, but our kids played really well.

“It takes a lot of hard work, discipline and respect for the other team.”

The Wolfpack finished the round robin with wins of 10-1, 9-1 and 16-0, before the final.

The bantam Yukon Mustangs finished third, hammering Alaska’s Palmer Pioneers 9-2 in the bronze-medal game.

Meanwhile, Yellowknife earned the peewee title by the slimmest of margins, winning a tiebreaker over the Yukon Mustangs on goal differential.

After both clubs finished with 3-1 records in the round robin, the tournament was decided by a goal differential formula.

Yellowknife took victory by scoring 26 goals and allowing just 16, while Whitehorse scored 31 but allowed 21.

One goal either way could have altered the final rankings.

Regardless, Yukon peewee coach Trevor Matthews said his players became a team over the weekend.

“This weekend was kind of a turning point for them,” he told the Star. “They came together as a team, both on and off the ice.

“It takes all five guys on the ice to put up our goals, and every line contributed. Most of our goals came from good hockey plays.”