Hundreds of the territory’s top athletes gathered under one roof Thursday night to be honoured for their achievements in 2015.

About 500 people packed the Yukon Convention Centre for the 40th annual Sport Yukon Awards Night, which saw members of nine different sports take home major honours.

Longtime coaches Kevin Murphy (table tennis) and Les Johns (archery) were inducted into the territory’s hall of fame. (See coverage, below.)

Darby McIntyre (running) and Emily Nishikawa (cross-country skiing) were named international athletes of the year, while Thomas Scoffin (curling) and Rachel Pettitt (figure skating) won the national/territorial awards.

The 2015 Whitehorse Bantam Mustangs (hockey) earned team of the year honours.

Additionally, Sherillynne Himmelsbach (equestrian) was named top administrator, while Dennis Peters and Laurie Jacobsen (biathlon) were named co-coaches of the year.

McIntyre – a 16-year-old Special Olympics runner – capped a sensational year by winning International Male Athlete of the Year.

McIntyre, diagnosed with autism at age three, won gold and bronze medals at the 2015 World Summer Games in Los Angeles.

He beat out national cross-country ski team member Knute Johnsgaard for the award.

After receiving congratulatory handshakes from his seat all the way up to the stage, McIntyre thanked his coaches, trainers and fellow athletes.

“Thanks for putting up with my jokes,” he quipped. “I was proud to represent the Yukon and Canada in Los Angeles and it was great knowing people back home were cheering me on.”

Meanwhile, Olympic cross-country skier Nishikawa remains Yukon’s pride and joy, earning her fifth straight International Female Athlete of the Year award following another season representing Canada on the World Cup circuit.

Nishikawa, 26, beat out fellow skiers Dahria Beatty and Annah Hanthorn, as well as swimmer Bronwyn Pasloski.

As has become tradition, Nishikawa’s mother, Joan Stanton, accepted the award in her daughter’s stead.

“Emily would be very pleased to be here,” Stanton said. “She sends her greetings from Oslo, Norway, where she will be racing this weekend.”

Scoffin, a standout curler, earned his first major award following a season in which he earned his first national title at the Canadian Interuniversity Sport championships.

His father, Wade Scoffin, accepted the award for his 21-year-old son, who is attending university in Edmonton and ran unopposed for the award.

Concurrently, Pettitt took home her first major award from Sport Yukon after a dream season that saw her win two national titles.

The 16-year-old figure skater edged cross-country skier Kendra Murray and biathlete Nadia Moser for the award.

“I’m honoured to be up here,” Pettitt said, before thanking her coaches, home club and many supporters.

“Thank you for helping me chase my dreams.”

The 2015 Bantam Mustangs also ran unopposed en route to the Team of the Year title.

The team – made up of Bryce Anderson, Mackenzie Benn-Wipp, Oscar Burgess, Dylan Cozens, Johnny Elias, Payton Fobe, Lochlan Fraser, Cameron Gingell, Cruz Goodman, Dylan Kindervater, Haiden Kremer, Niall Lawrie, Kailem Letto, Jared McCullough, Wyatt Peterson, Cole Smith, Joe Stokes, Ethan Vanderkley, Brett Walchuk and Isaac Williamson – won the territory’s first Tier 3 BC Hockey title last season.

“I can tell you first-hand that this young group of men epitomized what it meant to be a team,” said Derek Klassen, head coach of the Whitehorse Minor Hockey Association.

“They played the game with passion, discipline and integrity.”

Himmelsbach said the administrative award was humbling. It came after her first year working behind the scenes of the Yukon Horse and Rider Association.

Finally, Peters and Jacobsen were honoured for their coaching successes with Biathlon Yukon.

“This is a real honour,” Peters said. “Athletes ... working with you is a real privilege. Thanks for your faith in us.”

The evening also featured active member awards, handed out by local sporting bodies.

Also, Community Services Minister Currie Dixon presented more than 50 awards of excellence alongside Premier Darrell Pasloski.

Dixon informed those on hand that Yukon will be in the mix in terms of hosting duties for the 2020 Arctic Winter Games.

Wheelchair racer Jessica Frotten gave an inspiring keynote address following the presentation of the major awards.

The 27-year-old, who is currently training in Saskatchewan with hopes of attending the Rio Paralympics, told Yukon athletes that when things get tough, to always hold onto the love for their sport.

“If someone had told me before my accident that I would be a world-class athlete, I would have laughed right in their face,” she said. “But here I am.”

Frotten, who just returned from racing in Australia, also voiced her continued support for the potential outdoor sports complex proposed for Whistle Bend, that city council rejected.

“Being able to train at home would be a game-changer,” she said. “I wouldn’t have to sacrifice my family and community support.”