A rising paddling star will lead the Yukon into the Western Canada Summer Games tonight.

Pelly Vincent-Braun was named the team’s flag-bearer for the opening ceremonies, which will kick off the multi-sport tournament in Fort McMurray, Alta.

The Western Games, held every four years, will run in Wood Buffalo, Alta., until Aug. 16.

Vincent-Braun, 16, will represent the territory in flatwater paddling for the first time at Westerns, a week after he collected several medals at whitewater nationals in Chilliwack, B.C.

The young paddler will lead a team of 162 into tonight’s opening ceremonies. Westerns athletes range in age from 11 to 23.

On Monday night, Team Yukon gathered at Shipyards Park for a pep rally. The event included pick-up volleyball, a banner signing and barbecue.

“We wish the very best to all the athletes competing at the 2015 games,” Minister of Tourism and Culture Elaine Taylor said at the rally.

“This is an amazing opportunity for our Yukon athletes to showcase their skills, further their athletic development and compete against some of Canada’s best athletes.”

The Government of Yukon provided $325,000 to support the territory’s attendance at Westerns, which will mark the largest multi-sport event in the region of Wood Buffalo, with more than 2,500 athletes slated to compete in 18 sports.

Team Yukon athletes will take part in 12 sports, including soccer, basketball, judo and beach volleyball.

The games will take place in two phases, with a transition day Aug. 11.

“We are proud of each and every athlete representing Yukon,” said chef de mission Trevor Twardochleb.

“I would like to thank everybody who helps give these athletes the opportunity to participate in this memorable event.”

He urged the largest Westerns roster in Yukon history to be leaders and ambassadors for the North.

After being shut out from the medal standings in Kamloops, B.C., during the 2011 games, Twardochleb said he simply wants to see Yukoners trying their best.

Many view Westerns as a step above the Arctic Winter Games in terms of athletic development, he noted.

“I see it as one of our higher-level games and for some athletes, it may be the pinnacle,” said Twardochleb. “You’re going to see some of the finest athletes the western provinces have to offer, so the competition level can be at times as high as the Canada Games. But it’s just a more relaxed environment. ... I think it’s going to be pretty spectacular.”

In 2007, the territory earned two silver and four bronze medals to finish as the top territory in Strathcona County, Alta.

“There’s always a hope we will come away with some medals,” Twardochleb told the Star in a recent interview. “It provides a lot of momentum, but the whole idea is that each team is going to go and perform to the best of their abilities. Hopefully good things come of that.”

The territory will make its debut in both canoe-kayak and beach volleyball at this year’s games.

Twardochleb said he is excited to see what Vincent-Braun will do in flatwater racing and also believes the first judo team since 1999 may surprise some people.

Max Clarke will team up with Benjamin Grundmanis as the Yukon’s inaugural beach volleyball duo.

Clarke, 17, said he and Grundmanis played at two recent Outside tournaments to get their feet underneath them ahead of Westerns.

“The new rules were a bit of a learning curve,” Clarke admitted. “But overall, it’s less intense (than indoor). It’s more chill days at the beach.”

Minister of Community Services Currie Dixon lauded everyone who had a part in making Westerns a reality for young Yukon athletes.

“Major games like these are vital to athletic development,” he said. “I would like to thank everybody involved for their hard work and dedication.”

The Western Canada Summer Games were established in 1975, hosting competition between Canada’s four western provinces and three northern territories.

For more information or results from Team Yukon, visit 2015woodbuffalo.com/.