Two of the Yukon’s most recognizable athletes once again earned the highest sport honours at the Sport Yukon Awards Night.

But other major awards went to the younger generation, revealing a glimpse of the future stars the territory lays claim to.

Cyclist Zach Bell claimed his seventh International Athlete of the Year award, while cross-country skier Emily Nishikawa earned her fourth straight International Female of the Year honour at the Yukon Convention Centre last night.

Meanwhile, younger athletes Annah Hanthorn and Pelly Vincent-Braun picked up their respective female and male National/Territorial Athlete of the Year awards.

A crowd of approximately 400 athletes, coaches, parents and volunteers packed the convention centre for the 39th annual event, which saw hundreds of awards handed out.

Other major award winners included Krista McKinnon as Coach of the Year, Lynda Harlow as Administrator of the Year, and the Special Olympics Yukon soccer team as Team of the Year.

The evening was capped by the posthumous induction of Bill and Diana Simpson into Sport Yukon’s Hall of Fame for their formative work with the ElderActive Recreation Association.

The Simpson children – Stuart, Doug and Susan – accepted the award on behalf of their late parents, and received a standing ovation.

“Mom and Dad would have been very proud to be recognized,” Stuart said during a short speech.

Special Olympics coach McKinnon was the first to claim a major award for her work last season.

“It’s not very often I’m speechless,” she told the crowd. “Thank you so much. This is great, but mostly I’m proud of my athletes.”

Bell and Nishikawa’s honours followed. The cyclist admitted he was blown away by the event’s attendance.

“I’ve been to a few B.C. sport awards, and we’ve needed about half this much room,” he said. “I really appreciate the honour again this year, although I think the competition’s getting pretty stiff, so it might be the last time you see me up here.

“Remember my face,” he chuckled.

Nishikawa’s mother, Joan Stanton, accepted the award in her stead.

“Emily is probably fast asleep in northern Sweden,” Stanton explained.

“She’s there preparing for the first World Cup races of her season.”

Stanton read a prepared statement from the winter Olympian, thanking the community for all of the support she received in Sochi earlier this year.

Her older brother, Graham Nishikawa, received a special plaque for guiding blind skier Brian McKeever to multiple gold medals at the Paralympics this season.

Harlow went on to claim top administrator honours for her work with the Yukon Freestyle Ski Team.

“I’m honoured to have the support,” she said. “The freestyle team is the best. ... I actually feel very lucky to be involved in this organization.”

Whitewater paddler Vincent-Braun claimed his first major award after becoming the first Yukoner to earn a roster spot on the Canadian junior slalom team at the age of 15.

“I’d like to thank my parents for helping me get here,” he said, before honouring the local canoe and kayak club and his coaches.

Cross-country skier Annah Hanthorn, 19, thanked her coach and teammates after a season in which she earned three bronze medals at nationals.

“I love skiing here,” said the native of Fort McPherson, N.W.T. “The trails are a lot smoother and it’s fun to go fast.”

Special Olympic Yukon’s national gold-medal winning soccer team was also honoured.

Captain Gaetan Michaud said the shootout win was one for the ages. He lauded Michael Sumner for his clutch gold medal-winning strike – his first of the year.

“I just couldn’t believe it,” said Michaud. “He tried and tried to score all year. He turned 18 the week before, and I thought ‘Well, what better way to do it?’ It took a lot of hard work.”

The evening also included the launch of local sport historian John Firth’s Yukon Sport: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, which he sold and signed at a booth at the back of the room.

Master of ceremonies Ron McFadyen deftly guided the audience through the evening’s program, and was rewarded for his efforts with a Ted Harrison painting presented by Sport Yukon president George Arcand at the conclusion of the event.