FAIRBANKS – Team Yukonʼs junior female hockey team got a rude welcome to the Arctic Winter Games yesterday, dropping their opener 6-1 to Alaska.

The host team beat up on the Yukoners, outshooting them 38-14.

Jade Meier led the way with one goal and three assists, while Madison Morey sniped a pair of goals past Yukon goalie Abigail Turner.

Tamara Greek, a Junior Womenʼs Hockey League all-star this season with the Pacific Steelers, had the lone goal for the Yukon on a slick individual effort.

"It was the first faceoff of the second period,” coach Louis Bouchard said of Greekʼs goal, which brought the game score to 3-1. "Chyanne Spenner won the faceoff back.

It went between the two D. Tamara picked it up and went end-to-end and pulled the goalie out of her socks.”

Bouchard said despite the lopsided game, he was proud of his young team for refusing to quit.

"Our girls never gave up,” he said of Team Yukon, which includes two players as young as 12. "Alaskaʼs a big tough team with a lot of 17- and 18-year-olds, so we held our own I thought. Iʼm proud of the way the girls played.

"I personally look at this tournament as a development opportunity,” Bouchard added. "Weʼre playing U-19 … We donʼt have a 19-year-old on the team. But weʼd like to medal.”

Team Yukon won bronze at the 2012 Games.

Sixteen-year-old captain Chyanne Spenner said she hopes her team will get the chance to compete for a medal again.

Meanwhile, Alaska finished second to Alberta North at the last tournament, and is hoping to turn the tables this year.

"We were coming out prepared to have to really work for this win,” said captain Taral Clayton, an 18-year-old Anchorage resident. "Even though we might not have had to work quite as hard, we still put the effort forth. Itʼs great to know that the girls are meshing together.”

The Yukon will face their rivals from N.W.T. today.