Monday, March 01, 2004

More Coverage from AWG Boys soccer teams roll to wins on day one By Echo Ross Whitehorse Star FORT McMURRAY, Alta. – “I love games like that.” That was the reaction from Yukon junior male soccer player Paul Fraughton, after his team defeated Magadan (from Russia) 2-1 on Sunday evening, in a hard fought and thrilling game. The win was the second in a row on opening day for the squad. “A game like that feels a lot better than 4-0,” added Boris Hoefs. “Everyone stepped it up. We all knew we had to and that’s what feels so good right now. We came together when we should.” Both Hoefs and Fraughton praised the play of goaltender Jared Eeles, as did coach Peter Mather. “Our goaltender played very good for us,” said Mather. “The whole team is really focused right now and really wants to play soccer.” Eeles was also strong in the first game, a 4-0 shutout over Nunavut. “It was pretty good for our first game,” said Hoefs. “(It was) definitely a warm-up. We were playing a more forgiving team than we’ll face in the next few days. It gave us a chance to figure out what we need to work on.” Marshall Ewing from Mayo scored his first goal of the Games on a penalty shot against Nunavut. “He’s got a hammer shot,” teammate Nick Locke said smiling. “It’s definitely the hardest shot on the team.” Mather wasn’t particularly pleased with the game against Nunavut but it was a good chance to get the jitters out. The coach was a little bit nervous coming into the Arctic Winter Games because the team hadn’t been playing too well as of late at home. But two straight victories yesterday put the coach somewhat at ease. “We were playing against the (Yukon) Selects all the time (at home) and that’s tough on your confidence,” he admitted. “The boys played really well today. They still have to keep their shape defensively. They’re still holding onto the ball too long. “We have very offensive defencemen, so sometimes when they take on a guy they lose the ball. It would be nice if that didn’t happen too often.” All of the players feel Alaska, Alberta and Greenland will be tough teams to beat, although the Yukon squad got somewhat of a break yesterday. “Alaska got a stupid red card last game, so we’re playing them one (person) down,” said Hoefs. Still, Locke said the team will take it one game at a time. “Our coach has been telling us, ‘don’t get too high and don’t get too low, just keep focused,’” added Hoefs. “So that’s what were trying to do.” The team has also been receiving inspiration from co-coach Jake Hansen, who is back in Whitehorse waiting nervously for the results after each game. “Jake has written the boys a letter for every game that I read to the kids,” smiled Mather. “And they get so excited for that letter. “The kids have more respect for him than anyone else.” The junior boys’ soccer team will take on Alaska tonight at 7 p.m. Yukon time. 4:10:58 PM     WAZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZUP?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Note: Jamie is hanging out with me this afternoon and wanted to post something on this site. Jamie: PEACE Iraq, U.S and Malibou ;)   2:44:16 PM     Team Yukon at the opening of the Arctic Winter Games. CBC North photo. Arctic Winter Games Day 1: Haven't heard from either of my babies yet, although according to the radio, Alan's soccer team won their first two games: the first against Nunavut (4-0) and the second against Russia (2-1). Apparently the Russian team was looking very strong so I imagine they are feeling pretty good about that result. Alan scored one goal in each of the games. Tonight they play Alaska, which usually has the strongest soccer teams at the games. Here's a link if you want to follow the games. As for Iris, here's an article that was in Friday's Whitehorse Star. Not very well written, but anyway.... Northern Lights School of Dance will perform at AWG By ECHO ROSS The Northern Lights School of Dance has been selected as the Yukon’s cultural contingent for the 2004 Arctic Winter Games in Fort McMurray, Alta. Eight dancers, along with coach and choreographer Rebecca Reynolds, will perform six different pieces at the Games, which begin with open ceremonies on Saturday. “They’re very talented and work very hard,” said choreographer Dale Cooper in an interview Thursday. “We are very proud to have them representing us at the Games, and representing the Yukon. “These are la creme de la creme as far as we’re concerned.” Chelsea Hartwick, Amanda Murdoch, Zoe Freisen, Colleen Stinson, Allyn Walton, Anna Caitlyn Sumanik, Iris Binger and Kendra Thompson will present two jazz pieces, two modern, one hip hop and one theatre jazz piece. All of the dancers — ranging in age from 14 to 16 — have at least a couple of years’ experience and a few have been on stage for more than seven. “The girls are used to performing,” said Cooper. “We chose the dancers that showed the highest amount of commitment to their craft. They take a lot of pride in what they do.” Still, most of the dancers are a little anxious about their upcoming performances — only one has performed at AWG before. And to make matters more nerve-wracking, Northern Lights only found out a couple of weeks ago they would be traveling to Fort McMurray. “We found out just two weeks before the actual date (of the performance), so we have been freaking out,” said Reynolds. “I think one piece was done. The rest were sort of partly done. Some of them were planned for the year-end show. The hip hop piece, “A Games Funk”, was choreographed by Shona Wheeler and is AWG sports-oriented, featuring stands and stalls that reflect the movements of Arctic sports. “Urban Identity”, choreographed by Cooper, centres around a young girl who ran away from home. And one of the modern dances, “Heels”, is what Cooper calls “an expression of femininity.” Choreographed by Reynolds, “Heels” focuses on women specifically and the pressures, expectations and gender roles put on them in today’s society. The dancers will perform the entire number in high heels. All of the costumes were designed by Reynolds and Cooper, then brought to life by Andrea Rodger at Sportees Active Wear. Cooper said the theme sort of turned into things that are prevalent within the dancers’ young age group, “whether it’s runaway kids or an identity crisis — a lot of things that teenagers this age are going through.” When asked what makes the Northern Lights’ performances unique, Reynolds said there is a lot of variety within the pieces. “(There is) modern, contemporary, New York jazz and classical jazz,” she said. “Every piece has it’s own flavour. It’s a good way to expose people to different forms of movement.” Reynolds said she is confident the dancers will be able to pull everything off smoothly, despite the lack of practice time. She said younger dancers always seem to come together at the last minute. “They pull it out the minute a camera comes around or an audience is around,” she smiled. “I was like that when I was their age too. “You get nervous, but you get out there and just nail it. The crowd and energy gets them up to their full potential.” Reynolds and the Northern Lights Dancers will leave for Alberta Saturday. Opening ceremonies for the 2004 Arctic Winter Games will take place at 5 p.m. 9:40:46 AM

© Copyright 2004 Janet Patterson. Last update: 3/5/2004; 2:17:07 PM.