'You could say we knocked it out of the park.'

Three days after the 2007 Canada Winter Games officially came to a close, and one day after the last of visiting Games staff left Whitehorse, Team Yukon Chef de Mission Trevor Twardochleb took a moment to reflect on the largest event ever held North of 60.

With more than 200 athletes competing for Team Yukon over the two weeks, Twardochleb and the rest of his mission staff were certainly kept busy, but all the hard work put in paid off, as the team enjoyed four podium finishes and numerous top-10 results.

Three of the medals came in Week 2 in cross-country skiing a gold for David Greer in the men's individual classic, a bronze for Bryn Knight in the women's individual classic, and a bronze for Knight, Emily Nishikawa, Janelle Greer and Heidi O'Connor-Brook in the women's relay.

Judoka Amber Saunders picked up Team Yukon's first medal of the Games, a bronze, in Week 1.

'Really, I wasn't expecting any medals,' said Twardochleb. 'I was talking to Alain Masson (coach of cross-country skiing) before the Games and he was hoping for top 10 from his athletes, so to get medals in cross-country skiing was phenomenal.

'Amber's bronze was probably the highlight of my Games experience, because I watched her battle for the bronze in Bathurst/Campbellton (New Brunswick in 2003), so it was great to see her finally get it.'

Team Yukon as whole was fantastic at the 2007 Games, he said. While there was one suspension of a team member Ian Perrier in men's hockey Twardochleb said he didn't want to dwell on the negative when there were so many more positives.

He spoke about the near-podium finishes by young Yukoners in shooting and the incredible spirit displayed by the female hockey team, who sang and danced on the bench even when down by 10 or 15 goals.

'I was overwhelmed by our performances and by our behavior. That can be said about not just our athletes, but our volunteers as well and everyone who was involved.'

Team Yukon was awarded the Jack Pelech trophy at the closing ceremony, presented to the territorial or provincial team which best combines competitive performance, good sportsmanship and the spirit of friendship, cooperation and fair play.

Twardochleb said the entire community played a big part in his team garnering the award, adding it was a fitting tribute to the late Peter Milner as well, because it embodies the characteristics he always displayed and believed in.

'I thought winning that award was a perfect ending, in a story we've been carrying for two years.'

Voted on by ballot throughout the Games, the award was a nod to how welcome the athletes and mission staff from across the country felt in Whitehorse.

Twardochleb said when he sat down with his fellow Chefs at the final meeting after the Games had wrapped up, they were amazed at how every one of their requests were accommodated.

'They talked about absolutely every division and their efforts to accommodate every team.'

Whitehorse also raised the bar when it comes to food grazing, he added.

Having hot food available to the athletes at all the venues was something that had never been done before. At previous Games, the athletes were just sent out for the day with lunch boxes, he said.

'That's raised the bar and I hope it continues, because the athletes, coaches and managers just loved it. And the accommodations too ... people were just blown out of the water.'

There were quite a few challenges on turnaround day, Twardochleb acknowledged, as staff tried to get athletes in and out of town. He said that was the only thing that people weren't impressed with.

Even the cold weather in Week 1 didn't seem to leave a lasting negative impact on anyone competing or mission staff.

As Yukon Commissioner Geraldine Van Bibber put it at the closing ceremony, 'We have put the winter, back in the Canada Winter Games.'

'I don't think there would be one Chef that wouldn't tell you this was the best Games ever,' stated Twardochleb, adding the whole pan-north flavour was a really nice touch and enjoyed by everyone.

'Right from the opening ceremony, I knew that things were just going to be dynamite.'

For many of the organizers and volunteers, it's a bittersweet feeling now that the four years of hard work are over.

While Twardochleb will soon begin preparing for the Arctic Winter Games in 2008, and then the 2009 Canada Summer Games in Prince Edward Island, right now he just wants to relive all of the memories from the past two weeks.

'I think the real legacy is how these Games will be remembered by the people that participated.'

Final Canada Games

Flag Standings

1. Ontario, 310

2. Quebec, 305

3. Alberta, 271

4. British Columbia, 262

5. Saskatchewan, 211.5

6. Manitoba, 203.5

7. New Brunswick, 131.5

8. Nova Scotia, 111

9. Newfoundland, 79.5

10. Yukon, 65.5

11. Prince Edward Island, 65

12. Northwest Territories, 35

13. Nunavut, 9.5

Final Centennial

Cup Standings

1. Saskatchewan, 26

2. Ontario, 15

3. Yukon, 5

4. Northwest Territories, 1.5

5. Nunavut, -0.5

6. British Columbia, -0.5

7. Alberta, -2.5

8. Manitoba, -5

9. Quebec, -9

10. Nova Scotia, -9.5

11. Prince Edward Island, -13.5

12. Newfoundland, -13.5

13. New Brunswick, -19