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FAIRBANKS — A pair of youth hockey teams from Fairbanks captured tournament championships during Thanksgiving weekend in Anchorage.

The Arctic Lions U16 Tier II Midget team brought home the championship trophy from the Alaska Wolves Thanksgiving Tournament, while the Icebreakers U10 girls team earned the title in the Fred Meyer Turkey Shootout Invitational against several coed Squirt D teams that were comprised mostly of boys.

The Arctic Lions outscored the opposition 19-1 in claiming the Midget championship, but the championship game was anything but easy. Playing against the host Southcentral Wolves in the title games, the Arctic Lions were held to a scoreless tie through regulation and overtime. The contest went to a shootout that the Arctic Lions won 3-1 to claim a 1-0 triumph.

In the pool-play portion of the tournament, the Arctic Lions beat the Bulldogs with a 5-0 score, Kenai by a 4-1 margin and Mat-Su, 2-0. The Arctic Lions notched an impressive 7-0 win over the Southcentral Bantam A team.

The Arctic Lions are coached by Jordy Wolter. The Fairbanks squad has amassed a 28-2-4 record so far this season. Their next tournament is during the Christmas holiday break at Richmond, British Columbia.

Players on the team are Jesse Cartier, Markus Daniels, Brandon Edson, Patrick Evans, Seth Haines, Tyler Keturi, Dorran Masters, Lane Nichols, Brooklyn Panfil, Jordan Pascoe, Tanner Shoemaker, Stephon Williams, Zachary Winner, Matthew Wixon, Colton Wolter and Jacob Wolter. Darren Edson serves as the assistant coach.

Icebreakers

The Icebreakers’ championship game wasn’t quite as thrilling as Arctic Lions’, as the Fairbanks girls posted a 4-0 win over the Anchorage Hockey Association Squirt D Red Wings.

“The girls played great and stepped up all weekend,” coach Luther Brice said earlier this week. “It was good for them to win a predominantly boys tournament.”

Brooklynne Westmoreland scored what proved to be the game-winning goal in the first period. Helenka Brice and Jordyn Lord scored second-period goals, while Sawyer Thompson wrapped up the game with a third-period tally.

Goalie Emelia Helms-Leslie stopped five shots in earning the shutout.

Other players on the team are Brooke Fisher, Tana Bartels, Jamie Haman, Emily Kubichek, Erica Losee, Cassie Graves, Rya Pennington and Sami Haines.

“The thing that impressed me the most is that six different girls had hat tricks during the tournament,” coach Brice said.

Tom Fisher and Shawna Jusczak serve as assistant coaches.

En route to the title game, the Icebreakers won all three pool-play contests, and then notched a 10-2 win over the AHA Squirt D Blue Thunder in the semifinals.

Contact the News-Miner sports department at 459-7581.