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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - It was a weekend just for the women at the Multiplex between Sept. 27 to 29.

Current and budding female hockey players were invited to a development weekend hosted by Hockey Canada.

The event began Friday evening with a clinic open to both men and women entitled Coaches Helping Coaches.

"We went over some drills we can use to teach anyone from novice age to midgets," said attendee Kathy Yurris, junior female development co-ordinator for Yellowknife Minor Hockey and current atom division coach. "We saw some video clips on what to do and the best part (was) we went on the ice afterwards to put those new drills into practice so we could see it for ourselves."

Yurris also said she hoped the clinic would have gone on longer than the four hours allotted.

On Saturday girls from all levels had the chance to play on the ice for Free during Esso Fun Day.

"We had 20 to 25 girls from ages six to 14 on the ice," said Amy Doerksen, one of the coaches for the event. "I heard most of the older girls we had were figure skaters trying it out for the first time. It was a way to offer females a way to play at a non-competitive level."

Doerksen said there was a mix of reason as to why the girls were on the ice.

"Some parents put their girls out there to give them some extra ice time," she said.

"Others were really new but they did well. Most of them had the basic grasp of skating down pat."

Eight-year-old Sahara Lafferty took part in the clinic and said she had a great time.

"I learned a few new things," she said.

Lafferty said she's been playing for about three years now and just likes playing the game.

"I think it will help me out for the future," she added. "I would do it again."

Doerksen said she is hoping to make this a yearly event.

"We held something like this a couple of years ago," she said. "It would only make sense to have this each year. People would get used to it."