Yukon's junior female hockey team played their way to a 2-2 tie against team NWT on Sunday afternoon.

The Yukon team thoroughly dominated in possession of the puck and shots on goal but impenetrable goalkeeping from Atikin Hehn allowed NWT to remain in the game.

"We just couldn't beat their goalie,” said Yukon coach Louis Bouchard. "If she stays hot the whole tournament it could be a very surprising final.”

Yukon had more than double the shots of NWT and Bouchard said they put everything they could onto the net.

"We couldn't get anything by her,” he said.

The team was slowed by penalties, racking up nine infractions compared to five for NWT.

The penalties killed the tempo for team Yukon and had them playing at a disadvantage for most of the game.

"We need to reset and discipline ourselves, we need to avoid getting into those shorthand situations,” Bouchard said.

"Our girls were getting lazy penalties and retaliation penalties. Those cost us today.”

Emilie Nugent, who plays defence for Yukon, said a key to the team's success is their chemistry.

"We're all really good friends, we're a close team and we can push each other through tough times,” she said. "We all know each other and what to say and what not to say.”

It is Nugent's third time competing in the Games and the majority of the team has been through it before.

That previous experience gives the team an advantage in their cohesiveness and their expectations for the competition.

"We've played a lot of these teams before with the same group of girls so we have an idea of what teams we have to watch,” she said.

Bouchard said he was hopeful that chemistry would pay dividends throughout the tournament.

"Everyone on this team, except for one, has played together, so we have one new player but most of these girls were playing in the Canada Games last year and the Arctic's before,” he said. "They know each other and they'll be kicking each other's butts when they need to.”

Nugent also highlighted how much time the team spent in the penalty box.

"We took a lot of horrible penalties and that killed us,” she said. "But we can learn from it and now we just have to move on and get ready for the next game.”

Bouchard referred to the tournament as an open field.

"Anyone could win it,” he said. "We only play five games.”

Despite being in the Games before, Nugent said the opportunity to play at home makes this year's experience even sweeter.

"Your friends and family keep you positive, it's harder to get nervous because you're at your home arena and then once you step on the ice and you see and hear everyone you say ‘Alright, I'm going to do this for you guys,'” she said.

"It definitely gives you an extra push.”

Tamara Greek was named MVP for Yukon and Hehn received the recognition for NWT.