Disappointing tourney for Alberta's girls' squad

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Alberta's representatives did not fare as well as they had hoped to at this year's National Aboriginal Hockey Championships (NAHC).

The Canadian tournament was staged April 17 to 23 in Miramichi, N.B. Alberta's female side did not receive a final ranking. It was eliminated following its 7-1 quarter-final loss against Ontario South.

As for the Alberta male squad, it ended up in seventh place after winning its final contest 8-5 over British Columbia.

The Alberta female side had to finish off the tournament without two of its key players. The club's captain, Lynsey Own Chief, left the tourney after its third game to return to Alberta because of a death in the family.

Alberta's top netminder, 17-year-old Jacey Doore, also left the tournament (after the fourth game) to attend the funeral of Own Chief's uncle. The Alberta side had to rely on its 13-year-old netminder, Tashawny Beaver, in its quarter-final game.

Alberta coach Leiha Crier said her side clearly missed Own Chief and Doore once they left.

"In terms of leadership, we were lacking in the last game," Crier said.

The tournament featured nine clubs in the girls' division. The Alberta girls' side did not win any of its five matches at the nationals. The club's lone bright spot was settling for a 2-2 tie against Manitoba in a round-robin match. Manitoba defeated Alberta 5-2 in another round-robin contest.

Alberta had kicked off its tournament action with a 5-0 loss against the Quebec-based club called Eastern Door and the North (EDN).

Alberta was blanked 8-0 by Saskatchewan in its other round-robin match.

The Alberta girls' side had placed fifth out of seven clubs at the 2004 nationals held in Prince George, B.C.

Other teams that participated at the nationals included Ontario South, Ontario North, British Columbia, Northwest Territories and Team Atlantic.

EDN captured the gold medal in the female final, edging Ontario South 4-3.

Though her squad did not record a victory, Crier said participating in the nationals was a worthwhile venture.

"It was a great experience, especially for the females," she said. "It's the only program for Aboriginal athletes to play elite hockey and to get scouted for university or national teams."

A couple of Alberta female players were singled out following the nationals.

Own Chief, who plays defence, was named to the tournament all-star squad, which was selected strictly on performances from round-robin games. Also, right winger Kayla Baptiste was invited to attend an Aboriginal high performance camp that will be staged in Ottawa this July.

That camp will feature players born between 1989-91. Own Chief, who has attended the high performance camp in the past, has a 1988 birthdate.

As for the Alberta male club, it won three out of the six games it played at the nationals.

In round-robin action Alberta earned victories over British Columbia (7-2) and Saskatchewan (5-1). And it was defeated by Ontario South (4-3) and by EDN (5-4).

Alberta's hopes for a medal were then quashed when it was downed 6-4 by Ontario North in a quarter-final game.

Ontario North scored its sixth goal into an empty net after Alberta had pulled its netminder late in the contest in favor of an extra attacker.

"We were all over them in the last minute-and-a-half," said Alberta coach Danny Buffalo. "We had a couple of bad bounces and then they scored into the empty net."

Alberta though ended the tournament on a positive note, beating B.C. in its relegation tilt, which decided seventh and eighth place. There was also nine entrants in the boys' division.

The Alberta male squad had placed fifth out of eight teams at last year's nationals.

"In my opinion, we were a much better club this year," Buffalo said. "We just didn't score when we had to."

Buffalo was also pleased to see his side was competitive against all of its rivals.

"All of our games were close," he said. "All our losses were by one or two gals."

Ontario North ended up winning the boys' division, edging Team Atlantic 3-2 in overtime in the gold-medal game.

The Alberta male squad had two of its players, 16-year-old defenceman Ashford McMaster and 17-year-old forward Kaylen Crowchild, selected to take part in Ottawa's high performance camp.