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TuesdayDecember9201423SPORTSRECREATIONHOCKEYNWTwomenshockeytakesgoldatWickfesttourneyChampionsmeetOlympianHayleyWickenheiserafternalwinByDALICARMICHAELTheNWTCanadaWinterGamesCWGwomenshockeyteamdestroyedthecom-petitionattheWickenheiserWorldFemaleHockeyFestivallastweekinitsrst-evercompetitiveeventplayingtogetherasagroup.Theteamwentundefeatedinthelowerofthetournamentstwomidgetdivisionswin-ningoneexhibitiongameandvetournamentroundsbeforebestingtheEdmontonShockwithascoreof4-0totakehomethegold.ThenalgamewasalotcloserthanthescoreindicatedsaidAllisonKincaidtheteamsheadcoach.Itwas1-0formostofthegameandEdmontonjustkeptcomingatus.OurgoalieAyeshaBarlasplayedverywell.Shefacedatonneofverydifcultshotsonherwaytoearningtheshutouthersecondofthetournament.NeitherBarlasnortheteamsothergoalieEmilyPaddockletinagoaloverthecourseofthetournamentheldinCalgarytheweek-endofNov.30.ThewholeteamplayedwellthatswhytheydidntscoreKincaidsaid.Wedidntallowalotofopenchances.Therewerenotalotofgreatgoal-scoringchancesfortheotherteamsandthosethatwedidallowthegoal-iesmanagedtomakethosesaves.FollowingtheirchampionshiproundthewomenreceivedalockerroomvisitfromCanadianOlympicwomenshockeysuper-starHayleyWickenheiserthetournamentsnamesake.Shecamerightinourlockerroomandspoketothegirlsandtookselesandsignedautographsandspentagood20minutesintherewithourteamKincaidsaid.TheplayerswereabsolutelyoverjoyedtogettohearfromHayleyherselfsaidJes-sicaCoxtheteamsassistantcoach.Sheisbyfarthemostrecognizablenameandfaceinfemalehockeyandthegirlstrulyidolizeher.Forourteamthisexperiencewasquiteunforgettableandwilllikelybeonetheytelltheirfriendsaboutforaverylongtime.Around80teamsfromCanadatheU.S.andMexicocametogetherfortheannualtournamentfromnoviceleveldivisionsuptomidget.Inadditiontohostingwomenfromacrossthecontinentforsomehigh-levelcompetitionWickfestisalsochampionedasanopportunitytopromotewomeninsport.ShesagreatambassadorforfemalesinthegameKincaidsaid.Itwasgreattoseehowcommittedsheistogrowingthegirlsgame.Shereallywantstogivebacktothesportandthatspartofwhatthiseventisallabout.LookingaheadtotheCanadaWinterGamesTheteamwillgettogetherinYellowknifeforseveraltrainingcampsandonetournamentbe-foreplayingintheCanadaWinterGamesinFeb-ruary.TheplayersandcoacheswillbeyinginfromFortSmithAklavikInuvikandHayRiverfortherareopportunitytopracticetogether.Kincaidisexcitedaboutherteamsprospectsandsaysshewillbehappywiththemaslongastheycompetetothebestoftheirabilities.Keepinmindweregoingtobeplayingagainstthebestplayersinthecountrysowewanttohaverealisticexpectationsgoingintothegames.WerenotinthesamecategoryasteamOntarioorQuebecoranythinglikethat.Theyvegot40000girlstopickfromandwevegot40soitsalittledifferentKincaidsaid.WewanttomanageourexpectationssowedontfeellikejustbecausewewonthistournamentweregoingtogointhereandtakethegoldattheCanadaGamesshesaid.ThatsnotarealisticexpectationforusandIthinkthegirlsunderstandthat.Certainlywethinkwecanhavesuccessitsjustamatterofdeterminingwhatsuccesslookslikeforus.PhotoRobHartThegirlsoftheNWTCanadaWinterGameswomenshockeyteammeetCanadiangold-medalOlympichockeyplayerHayleyWickenheiserafterwinningatournamentnamedinherhonour.