A new group of Yukon soccer stars made its mark in Vancouver over the weekend.

The U8 Yukon Junior Strikers claimed gold at the North Shore Youth Soccer Association’s Indoor Tournament in what marked the first tournament together as a team.

The event was held Jan. 1 to 3 in North Vancouver.

The group of six- and seven-year-olds went undefeated against its big-city rivals from the Lower Mainland, winning gold Sunday, 1-0 over the North Shore Rangers.

Leading scorer Cameron Bringsli’s seventh goal of the tournament stood up as the game-winner, while goalkeeper Andrzej Benson earned the clean sheet.

The team finished 5-0-1 in the tournament, a feat that left head coach Grant Zazula in awe.

“I think to me the biggest factor that led to our success was these kids played with tons of heart,” he told the Star.

“It was awesome because you can’t teach that. In sports, you either have heart or you don’t. This group of kids has loads of heart.”

Unsure of what to expect from the young group, Zazula said Bringsli’s first goal of the tournament two minutes into the Strikers’ first game – an 8-0 win over the North Shore Real Madrid – gave the team an emotional lift and a sense they belonged.

“I knew they were nervous going into their first game,” said Zazula. “(Bringsli’s goal) felt like a huge wall broke down and the floodgates opened.

“The rush of adrenaline that these kids got hit with when that goal was scored was incredible.”

Zazula, president of the Whitehorse Minor Soccer (WMS), said his players’ confidence grew by leaps and bounds over the three-day event.

“You could see them all maturing and gelling as a team,” he said. “Not just on the field, but mostly off the field. This team has some really skilled individual players, but they played so well together as a team.”

The team racked up four straight wins to start the tournament: 8-0 over North Shore Real Madrid, 3-1 over North Shore Barcelona, 3-0 against North Shore Hull City and 1-0 versus the Coquitlam Metro Ford Timbers.

The Timbers are a semi-pro program considered one of the best in Canada, said Zazula.

The Strikers then tied the North Shore L.A. Galaxy 1-1 before winning the final 1-0.

While Bringsli led the way offensively, other goalscorers included Zephaniah Giam – the team’s only eight-year-old, Leah McLean, Roman Zazula, Samuel Watson and Benson.

Watson and Benson also split time in goal, while Brody Nash, Malcolm Murchison and Lachlan Wood protected the crease with hard-nosed defence.

Rounding out the team’s roster was the club’s lone six-year-old, Kara McLean.

Co-coaches were Chris Nash and Kevin Benson.

Despite being the only co-ed team in the U8 division, the Strikers beat their opponents with precise passing and patient ball movement.

“But what really set us apart from the other teams was our defence,” said coach Zazula. “These kids played like they were eight feet tall.”

Many of the young Strikers players wore their new medals to school upon their return to Whitehorse, Zazula chuckled.

“They don’t want to take these things off. It’s pretty awesome for them. And for me, I’ve never been this excited in a competition in my life. This was the best sporting experience of my life as an adult.”

The U8 competitive stream in WMS didn’t even exist until two years ago, said Zazula.

The Junior Strikers was created in 2014 to provide a program for players looking to spark competitive careers.

“The program is really based on developing their skills a little further and giving them more competitive opportunities,” he explained.

Many of the players participating in the program are now playing against older opponents in regular minor soccer action.

Zazula put out a call to the program – which consists of about 40 youngsters – to form a team for the North Shore tournament.

After the squad was named, the group headed to Haines Junction to play an exhibition contest prior to flying south for the tournament.

“This tournament was really kind of a let’s see how it goes,” the coach said. “We had no idea what to expect in terms of competition or logistics. ... I wanted to see how (the players) reacted to this, and they reacted like total superstars. It was unreal.

“We came from a long way and had nothing to lose, really.”

The Strikers worked hard to raised funds for the tournament, and were officially sponsored by Tags Food and Gas, Nuway Crushing, Tim Hortons, North 60 Petro, Air North, Booster Juice and TD Bank.

Two other Yukon teams also competed at the tournament, Zazula said.

The U9 Strikers finished with one win, while the U11 team went winless despite several tight contests.