Whitehorse Daily Star

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Photo by Marcel Vander Wier

THANKS, MOM – Davina McLeod, left, of the Gwich’in Spitfires congratulates her mom, Mina McLeod, after she receives the Jean Gleason Memorial Hockey Mom Award.

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Photo by Marcel Vander Wier

MARQUEE GAME – Ryan Gleason of the CAFN Storm, centre, looks to strip EGT Nanooks player Erwin Elias of the puck during the A division final Sunday night.

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Photo by Marcel Vander Wier

TOO LATE – Fans cheer as CAFN Storm forward Clayton Thomas scores in the A division final Sunday. Despite the goal, the hometown team lost the game 8-3.

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Photo by Marcel Vander Wier

HARD TO STOP – Inland Tlingit Warriors star Mike Arnold, top, tries to get around Lower Post Eagles blue-liner Josh Craven during the B division final Sunday. The Warriors won 9-5.

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Photo by Marcel Vander Wier

THAT HURTS – Dease Lake Mooseheads player Brandon Moffet unleashes a stinging snapshot at PCM defenceman Matthew Skinner during the C division final Sunday. PCM won 5-4.

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Photo by Marcel Vander Wier

BUSY WEEKEND – Yukon Premier Darrell Pasloski, right, refereed 11 games during the tournament.

Gleason wins MVP as board hands out awards

It was a fitting end for a hockey tournament that went all out to honour one of its own.

By Marcel Vander Wier on March 24, 2015

It was a fitting end for a hockey tournament that went all out to honour one of its own.

Ryan Gleason, the 32-year-old son of the late Sandi Gleason, took home MVP honours in the A division after a memorable performance that saw him net a hat trick in the semifinals to power the CAFN Storm into the championship game.

While his club ultimately lost the final 8-3 to the EGT Nanooks, Gleason’s impressive semifinal performance against the Lower Post Eagles left an impression on organizers.

After Gleason buried his third goal in the eventual 7-3 win, he kissed the ribbon honouring his mother that covered his heart and pointed to the sky.

“Lower Post was turning it around in that one,” the burly forward said of his emotional celebration following his hat trick goal. “It was a big pass by Eddie (Long).”

The jerseys of the old-timer Whitehorse Arrows – which included Gleason’s father, Rick Smith – also sported the ribbon patch on the shoulder.

“It represents all cancers,” Gleason said of the ribbon.

Gleason, who wears No. 22 in honour of his mom, said while he held his emotions in check for most of the tournament, he nearly “lost it” in the handshake line following the final.

Gleason said his mom, who lost her battle with cancer Dec. 24, 2013 at the age of 49, had a vision of a hockey tournament like this.

“We started out with two youth teams,” he said of his mom’s efforts to include a youth division. “And look what it is now.”

Gleason’s younger brother, Chris Gleason, was unable to play for the Storm in the final as he needed to return to school.

The tournament is an annual highlight for the hundreds of players who converge on the Yukon capital.

“This is the year-ender for a lot of us,” said 38-year-old B division player JJ Lutz of the Lower Post Eagles.

“It’s a big thing. A lot of people come out to watch and it’s fun. You see a lot of people from all over and it’s happy times.”

Individual award winners at the 38th Kilrich/Northerm Yukon Native Hockey Tournament are as follows:

A DIVISION

MVP: Ryan Gleason (CAFN Storm)
Top Scorer: Cody Pederson (EGT Nanooks)
Best Defence: Jared Tuton (CAFN Storm)
Best Goalie: Deven Dubyk (EGT Nanooks)

B DIVISION

MVP: Dylan Apsassin (Lower Post Eagles)
Top Scorer: Mike Arnold (Inland Tlingit Warriors)
Best Defence: John Apsassin (Inland Tlingit Warriors)
Best Goalie: Kris Joyce (Lower Post Eagles)

C DIVISION

MVP: Alexander Skinner (PCM)
Top Scorer: Dennis Gordon (Dease Lake Mooseheads)
Best Defence: Dang Dang Gruben (PCM)
Best Goalie: Joshua Kontagonis (Dease Lake Mooseheads)

OLD-TIMER

MVP: Clarence Roulette (Kaska Warriors)
Top Scorer: Clarence Roulette (Kaska Warriors)
Best Defence: Frank Roberts (Kaska Warriors)
Best Goalie: Matt Wealick (CA Bruins)

JAMBOREE

MVP: Jonas Leas (Jr. Inland Tlingit Warriors)
Top Scorer: Westin Creyke (Tahltan Selects)
Best Defence: Mathew Cooper (Jr. Inland Tlingit Warriors)
Best Goalie: Josh Tetlichi (Gwich’in Spitfires)

YOUTH

MVP: Kaien Tait (Gwich’in Braves)
Top Scorer: Kaien Tait (Gwich’in Braves)
Best Defence: Zoe Leas (Gwich’in Braves)
Best Goalie: Torin Comiskey (Jr. Tahltan Selects)
Most Sportsmanlike Player: Richard Scarff (KDFN Predators)
Team Spirit Award: Carmacks ‘Lil’ Wild Ones

OTHER

Most Sportsmanlike Team: Iskut Wolverines (C division)
Most Inspirational Player: Stephanie Charlie (AK Knights, C division)
Most Improved Team: Tahltan Bear Dogz (B division)
Most Dedicated Hockey Mom: Mina McLeod (Aklavik, N.W.T.)
Leadership Award: Don Magun (Kaska Warriors)

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