Native hockey tournament sets precedent in Yukon

A weekend native hockey tournament in Whitehorse will be an alcohol-free event for the first time in 15 years.

The president of the Yukon Indian Hockey Association says no beer garden will be set up at the Takhini Arena in Whitehorse.

"We are wanting to have families come to an atmosphere where they can feel at ease and they can bring their children," says Steve Smith. "They're only going to be exposed to a positive way of life and learning that alcohol does not have to be the centrepiece to them having fun or enjoying themselves."

Smith says the hockey association has been doing more fund-raising this year to make up for the money the beer garden usually brings in. That money normally accounts for one-fifth of the tournament's $50,000 budget.

The tournament runs March 22 to 24.