Despite a major age gap, five Yukon girls held their own when competing with Team BC at the National Aboriginal Hockey Championships over the weekend.

Tshayla Nothstein of Faro, Brittney Brown and Sierra Oakley, both of Haines Junction, Lynsey Keaton of Whitehorse and Natalja Blanchard of Dawson City represented the territory at the U20 event in Saskatoon, Sask.

At 16, Nothstein was the oldest Yukoner on Team BC.

At 13, Oakley was the youngest.

"In a U20 tournament she was only 13 and got to score a goal,” said Northern Avalanche/Team Yukon coach Louis Bouchard, who was assistant coach for Team BC.

"Whenever you're coaching at this level, you have to keep your wits about yourself. Little mistakes on the bench add up.”

Nothstein, Oakley and Keaton – who was an assistant captain – were starters on the squad, while Brown and Bouchard were alternates.

"They were leaders on the team,” Bouchard said. "They came out and they held their own, which proves that our hockey program is working up here.”

Sure is.

Nothstein sniped four goals and two assists to land second in team scoring. Oakley added a goal and an assist to the Yukon's tally, and Keaton added an assist of her own.

Bouchard noted the three Yukoners had to adjust to playing on three different lines.

Nothstein's line, he added, notched the most goals after it took her a while to settle down.

"Once she got going she was all right, but it took her a while to get the confidence and to get you to her line mates,” Bouchard said.

Team BC opened the tournament with a 6-3 win over N.W.T., followed by a big 6-1 loss to Alberta in their second game.

No. 1-ranked Manitoba handed B.C. its second loss, this time 5-3.

Team BC then managed a 1-1 tie against Eastern Door and North (from Quebec), who were one of the

tournament favourites, and therefore needed a win against Saskatchewan.

That must-win game resulted in a 7-2 loss for B.C.

"We obviously fit on that team and we can play at that level. I believe Team BC needs our players to fill their roster.”

Seven Yukon girls tried out for Team BC in Merritt in April.

Adrianne Dewhurst of Teslin was the fourth Yukoner selected as a starter for the team but chose to compete in the BC Cup in Salmon Arm, going on the same weekend, for a shot at representing B.C. at the National Hockey Championships in November.

Added Bouchard of his own coaching experience in Saskatoon: "Coaching these kids from B.C., with our girls from the Yukon – great experience.”