Museums, well depending on the museum, are typically quiet places to go. That was not the case on Wednesday evening as the Canada Winter Games athletes and their coaches took over the third floor of the MacBride Museum to celebrate with a pep rally before they head off to the Games.

The Games will be held in Red Deer, Alta. It features 19 sports, over 150 events, and a major arts and cultural festival.

The games will welcome 3,600 athletes, including 150 Yukon competitors, as well, more than 20,000 visitors will converge on Red Deer.

As the rally officially began, all the athletes and coaches, adorned in their grey and purple sweaters, took their seats as minister of highways and public works and minister of the public service commission, Richard Mostyn, stepped to the podium to announce the Yukon’s flag bearer.

“Our flag bearer for the Yukon is 16 years old and was born and raised in the territory,” said Mostyn during his speech.

“He started playing hockey when he was eight years old. I’m told that he hated the sport. But that changed when he scored his first goal in the last game of the season.

“He played competitive hockey in Whitehorse for six-years and then moved down to Abbotsford to play in the Yale Hockey Academy. He has also played with team North at the National Aboriginal Hockey Champions in Nova Scotia.

He is excited to join some of his old teammates in Alberta. I want to congratulate Kyron Crosby.”

Crosby sat in his seat with a sheepish grin on his face as his teammates patted him on the back and called for him to make a speech - he did not go to the podium.

Crosby said being announced as the flag bearer came as a surprise.

“I didn’t know it was going to happen but it will be pretty cool walking out with the flag at the Games,” said Crosby.

For Crosby, this will be his first national event. He is looking forward to the challenge ahead and likes the teams chances.

“We have a pretty strong group,” said Crosby. “We have a couple younger players then me and a couple others are older so we will add some depth. Honestly, I’ve never been to one (Games) before, everything will be a first time, I’m really looking forward to it.”

During the rally, different games were set up around the hall. Archer Vincent Menard, was watching athletes move cereal from one bowl to another with chopsticks. He will be attending his first national full venue event. He has competed in archery nationals.

He said he is not feeling nervous but rather excited about competing against the best archers in the country.

“I’m really excited, it’s the first time I’m doing that,” said Menard. “I’ve seen the other athletes, and it’s not my purpose to win, I want to see how other people shoot and beat my personal record.”

The opportunity to represent the Yukon is a great feeling for Menard.

“It’s awesome, I love it,” said Menard with a smile. “There is always people asking me ‘how is it to be in the Yukon?”

Well it’s awesome, it’s the Yukon. There is not a lot of people here. I couldn’t do this if I was in Ontario. I’m really lucky to be doing that, it’s really awesome to be representing the Yukon.”

Gymnast Bianca Berko-Malvasio is excited about the prospect of competing at such a large event.

“It feels pretty good to go somewhere so big, to be part of something so big,” said Berko-Malvasio. “Especially representing the Yukon, it feels pretty cool.”

Berko-Malvasio said seeing all the other athletes has got her feeling “pretty pumped up” for the competition.

Wynne Anderson-Lindsay is the goalie for the female hockey team and will be attending her first Games.

“It means a lot to go places and meet new people and then get to represent my sport and my territory,” said Anderson-Lindsay.

While at the Games Anderson-Lindsay plans on taking in some of the other sports.

“A lot of my friends are going so I am going to watch the badminton and figure skating,” she said.

Crosby will lead the Yukon athletes during the opening ceremony which takes place on Friday.