It's already difficult to break out of the Yukon as a hockey player – and without a chance to play during the summer, it's nearly impossible.

That's why Creston Valley Thunder Cats coach Joe Martin is returning to the Yukon once again this summer to host the Northwestel Summit Summer Hockey League and camp for youth to help keep them even with Outside hockey players.

"The idea is for Whitehorse youth to get ice over the summer,” Martin said. "It's just a way to keep on par with players down south.”

Already the summer league – which has been running for three years – is helping out players.

"We see the results,” Martin said.

The coach points to players such as Ted Stephens, who recently played in the Memorial Cup as part of the QMJHL finalist team, the Moncton Wildcats.

"We've got a lot of great players playing in league,” Martin said.

Other players that have broken out of the Yukon to play hockey include Robbie Stuckey, Reid Campbell, Kane Dawe, Lawrence Brennan, Joe Densmore, Adam Henderson, Neil Chambers, Andrew Pettitte and more.

"They're good players to begin with, but because of things like this they're staying on pace,” Martin said.

This is an important year for youth to get involved with the league, he said, with the Canada Winter Games approaching in early 2011.

"We're targeting those players,” he said.

Players born in 1995 and older are eligible to try out for the Yukon team, and Martin hopes he will see these youth at the summer league.

"They need as much high-level competition as they can,” Martin said.

The league will feature four teams, Ketza Construction, Cinderwood, EBA Engineering and the Casa Loma.

There is room for 60 players, and any spots not filled by youth will be filled in with adult players. There will be 15 players per team, and depending on sign-up, more teams could be added.

Registration for the league is open to July 5 at Sport Yukon, and the league schedule will be out on July 12. The cost is $120 for each player for 10 games throughout the summer.

A slight change this year will see players not knowing what team they are on until after registration. Martin said they will be having a draft-style team selection to spread out the talent evenly.

The program will run for seven weeks until the third weekend in August.

"It's the highest level of hockey that kids can play,” Martin said. "It's quite a competitive league.”

Last year Martin said they were forced to turn players away, and expects the same rush to register. If the number of extra players is high enough, there's a chance they could add more teams.

With Northwestel and the team sponsors involved, Martin said they have been able to keep the costs down for the kids.

"They do it without even being prodded to do it,” he said of the sponsors.

All games will be played at the Canada Games Centre.