Action is well underway at the B.C. provincial championships, where the Whitehorse Mustangs AA midget, bantam and pee wee rep hockey teams are lacing up.

More than 160 players plus coaches, parents and team supporters have converged on Terrace, B.C. this week, for the 2005 bantam AA championships.

Whitehorse joined the first place regional rep hockey teams from across B.C. who won the right to compete in the championship tournament. Their competitors came from Vancouver Island, Port Moody, Kitimat, Dawson Creek, Quesnel, Okanagan, Richmond and Terrace.

The Mustangs picked up a resounding 9-2 victory over Terrace Inland Kenworth in their first game, which was played following the opening ceremonies.

'The coaches were very pleased with the first game performance by the Mustangs,' said head coach Mike Young. 'The game was a great confidence booster for the kids. Everyone was able to get a feel for each other as a team.'

Ted Stephens led off the scoring for Whitehorse in the first period, and the score was tied 1-1 with seven minutes left in the first when the Mustangs potted two goals another one by Stephens and one from Evan Campbell within 60 seconds of each other, ending the first period in the lead 3-1.

'After a shaky start, our boys got over their nervousness and settled down and worked hard,' said assistant coach Jim Stephens. 'The local crowd was really supportive and got the Terrace team fired up.'

The Mustangs dominated the second period as well, with two goals from Robbie Stuckey and singles from Daniel McGowan, Kane Dawe and Stephens, who completed the hat trick. One Terrace player was ejected from the game after the play became more physical late in the second period.

The third period netted one goal for each team, with Campbell scoring again for the Mustangs.

'Their goaltender was outstanding, with 67 shots on the Terrace net,' said Young.

Whitehorse also saw strong play in net from Ian Perrier in the first two periods, and a shutout for backup Mitch Heynan in the third.

As the third period was winding down, a second Terrace player was evicted from the game for causing an injury to defenceman Kevin Pike. Pike's injury was minor and he will return for the second game.

'We started off slow, but turned it around and it was great to get a win in to start this championship ,' Young said. 'It's nice having a team this deep, where we can count on anyone at anytime to contribute. It also made us a closer-knit team.'

The next game for the Mustangs was against Rossland Trail, who was touted as the strongest team in Pool A, Monday afternoon. Trail didn't disappoint, handing Whitehorse a 9-2 loss.

Further information on that game will be printed in Wednesday's Star, as well as coverage of the bantam's next game against Port Moody this afternoon.

There have been high hopes for this year's bantam AA Mustangs, who placed third in a AAA international hockey tournament in Langley, B.C. this year, and were also third in another AAA tournament. But the coaching staff was quick to point out the team can't think too far ahead.

'There are no guarantees and we are playing the very best British Columbia has to offer,' said Stephens. 'Our first objective is to make the final four playoff round. That is our complete focus.'

Meanwhile, the midgets played their first game against host Quesnel on Monday night. Quesnel handily defeated Whitehorse 10-3, in a game which was held immediately following the opening ceremonies. No further details on the game were available by press time.

The pee wees are competing in Osoyoos, where they lost their first two games of the tournament. After falling 7-2 to Nelson Sunday evening, the Mustangs dropped a 7-0 decision to Kitimat Monday afternoon. Their next game is this afternoon against Westside.