The Canada Winter Games, which are to be played in Red Deer, Alta., from Feb. 15 until March 3, are quickly approaching. Hockey Yukon has recently begun the selection process for the two teams it will be sending to the Games.

A U16 boy’s team and a U18 girl’s team will be making the trip to Red Deer. It is an opportunity that not many players will get to experience, says Hockey Yukon president Travis Ritchie.

“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for some of these youth hockey players,” said Ritchie. “The winter Games are every four years, so some players won’t be eligible to play when the Games are held again.”

The Games will feature teams from across the country, and the players will see the best players from the other provinces and territories.

“They are going to be playing the best players in their age group,” said Ritchie. “We want them to have a competitive experience, but still have fun. This is an opportunity for them to benchmark their skills, compared to others across the country.”

The Christmas holidays will prove to be a busy time for the coaches and evaluators.

The boy’s team will be holding a Christmas camp from Dec. 18-21, while the girls camp will run from the 20-22.

“There are a lot of competitive players outside of the territory who are eligible to play for the Yukon,” said Ritchie. “A lot of these players will be home over Christmas and we want to have a consistent evaluation for all players.”

Ritchie said that admittedly the program started later than had been hoped, but that the program will set the players up, on both teams, to succeed.

“The male team came together a bit later,” said Ritchie. “In the future, it will be advantageous to get started earlier. But we have a good core of players in programs here in Whitehorse and about eight to ten players out of the territory who we want to give the opportunity too.

“Before they make the trip to the Games they will get intensive practice beforehand to get familiar with the systems. The players will get put in the best position to compete in a competitive environment. The coaches are going to develop the players the best they can in a short period of time. There is confidence in the program.”

Before the tournament commences, the coaches will have in place the goals they expect their teams to accomplish.

“The coaches will set the expectations,” said Ritchie. “They are expecting the players to perform. Right now it’s about doing well in the pool and making it out of the pool. They are stretch goals, yet realistic.”

Outside of the competitive expectations Ritchie says he hopes it is a social experience for the players.

“We want them to have fun and be social,” said Ritchie. “It is a once in a lifetime opportunity, so we want them to enjoy the moment.”

The boy’s team will be mostly made up of midget players, but there is a good opportunity for some of the major bantams. The girls being an U18 team has the advantage of choosing from a broader range of players.

The 20 players selected to each team will be announced early in January, after the Christmas camps. The boy’s team will play during the first week of the Games, while the girls will take to the ice in the second week.