The snow melted nice and early and the last six months of the year reflect the successes of the territory’s summer athletes.

July

The annual Dustball tournament brought a lot of excitement to Whitehorse and saw plenty of entertaining games. The women’s final was played between RBI and The Crew. RBI led for most of the game but The Crew made a furious comeback in the later innings to win 14-13.

The Chico’s, from Skagway, downed the P&M Recycling Guns to take the men’s final. The Chico’s had the hot bats in the early goings and did not relinquish the lead as they won 14-5.

The territory’s youth hockey players got to take the ice with some former and current professional hockey players as part of the 17th annual Northwestel and Yukon First Nation Hockey Association Learn to Lead hockey camp.

New to the camp was Buffalo Sabres defenceman Brandon Montour, as well as former NHLer Arron Asham and Wacey Rabbit, centreman for the ECHL Jacksonville Iceman.

Off the ice, Ashley Callingbull, a model, actor, First Nations activist and former Miss Universe 2015, returned as a motivational role model to the youth.

August

Runners braved the 42.2 kilometre Yukon River Trail Marathon and Relay at the beginning of the month. Local runner Roger Hosking ran sub-four hours to be named the overall winner of the full marathon.

Krestena Sullivan, from Kitchener, Ont. was the third overall finisher and first woman back. Her sister Maura, who resides in Whitehorse came second.

From August 9-18, Team Yukon travelled to Swift Current, Sask. to compete in the 2019 Western Canada Summer Games. Dual sport athlete Cassi Jensen was the flag-bearer for the opening ceremony.

The Yukon came away with nine medals, three silver and six bronze. Swimmer Mia Barrault and wrestlers Judy Russel and Jaymi Hinchey got the silvers.

Kayaker Julianne Girouard won two bronze, Barrault got her second medal of the Games, and cyclist Mara Roldan, runner Jack Amos, and Jensen for wrestling all got third.

On May 15, Yukon athletes tested their physical and athletic ability during the RBC Training Grounds at the CGC. It was the first time the event had been held in the North.

In 2019, close to 2,000 athletes participated in one of 30 local RBC Training Ground. Of those 2,000, 100 were selected to the Olympic Talent Search final, including Whitehorse archer Vincent Menard.

September

The 37th annual Klondike Trail of ‘98 International Road Relay had 170 teams leave from Skagway to cover the 175-kilometre distance to Whitehorse. Teams could have up to 10 runners over 10 legs.

TNP: Dirty Skags, a mixed team from Anchorage, set a blistering pace finishing in 11:11:50.

The youth race began in Carmacks and the Speedy Soles, a local team, was the quickest team back finishing the race in 5:27:36.

The official mascot of the Whitehorse 2020 Arctic Winter Games stepped off a plane in September and straight into their role as an ambassador of the Games.

Owen McDonald, who illustrated Däch’äw, was on hand to see his drawing come to life.

“I think it’s awesome,” said McDonald. “I’ve never seen one of my drawings come to life before so that’s pretty new.”

October

Arcel Siosan, a Yukon volleyball player, who played libero for Vanier, walked on to his varsity team the Dalhousie Tigers.

In October, Siosan played his first games as a member of the team and got the starting nod in an exhibition tournament in Manitoba.

After a five year break from Figure competitions, Yukon bodybuilder Chelsea Mooney once again took the stage for the Natural Vancity Showdown.

Mooney placed first and earned herself an invitation to Bogota, Colombia to compete in her second-ever international show where she earned silver. She last competed internationally when she travelled Budapest, Hungary in 2013.

After completing her third season as a member of the Lethbridge College Kodiaks, Yukoner Christine Moser was named the Alberta College Athletic Conference (ACAC) South Women’s Player of the Year.

In her third year, she played in 11 of the team’s 12 games starting in 10 of them. She wracked up five goals and three assists.

November

We’ll turn to high school sports to begin November. The Supervolley season came to a close and it was F.H. who reigned supreme.

The girls’ team downed the Porter Creek Rams in straight sets to take the title.

Later in the month, they completed the triple crown as they also won the Yukon Championships later in November. In October, they won the Dawson Invitational Volleyball Tournament.

The boys defeated Vanier in a tough five-set battle to win the Supervolley crown, however, during the rematch in the Yukon Championships it was Vanier who came out on top 2-1.

After his showing in the Vancouver Marathon in May, Whitehorse runner David Eikelboom competed in the Shanghai Marathon. He said it wasn’t his best race, but used it as a learning opportunity for the next time he competes.

Special Olympics Yukon selected their team that will represent the territory at the Special Olympics Canada Winter Games in Thunder Bay, Ont. in February. Athletes will be competing in figure skating, curling and cross country skiing.

December

The Arctic Winter Games trials began in November but for the majority of the territories prospective athletes, their tryouts were held in December. Congratulations to all the athletes who made their respective team and get to proudly wear Yukon across their chest.

The second annual Jamie Shaw Memorial Tournament had another successful year and was enjoyed by plenty of basketball fans. In the gold medal games, the F.H. girls downed Skagway and the Vanier boys weathered a late push by the Warriors.

The Youth Olympic Games will begin in January and two Yukon cross country skiers, Sasha Masson and Derek Deuling will be representing Canada in Lausanne, Switzerland.

The duo earned invites to the team after their performances at the Haywood NorAm YOG Trials/US Super Tour, in Canmore, Alta. from Dec. 6-8.

Have a safe and happy New Year’s everyone. Cheers to 2020.