While the improving statistics over the past few years offer their own proof, it's always nice to hear it from outside sources, especially when one of those sources is a top-level coach with national championships and NHL experience under his belt.

As Yukon hockey players laced up their skates and hit the ice for the annual Bell Summit Hockey School in Whitehorse last week, they seemed to be exuding a new sense of confidence.

With a respectful showing at this year's Canada Winter Games under their belt, as well as numerous provincial medals over the past three seasons, local players of all ages are finally starting to believe they can compete against their Canadian counterparts.

The number of athletes receiving invitation letters from junior camps is climbing, with several Yukoners scheduled to suit up for either junior A or university teams this fall and a dozen more planning to try out.

On Friday, Danny Flynn, an assistant coach with the NHL's New York Islander's this past season and the head instructor at the school, confirmed what many are starting to suspect Yukon hockey is on the right path.

'The guys who've been coming to this camp since it started, I've noticed a really steady improvement in their skill level,' said Flynn, following the camp's final session at the Canada Games Centre.

'Hockey in the Yukon has really improved in the last four or five years. It's good to see.'

Rumour has it Flynn, who is now the head coach and director of hockey operations for the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League's Moncton Wildcats, was keeping his eye on a couple of the elite players attending the camp last week. And Brad Peddle, the head coach of the men's hockey program at St. Francis Xavier University, put in a pitch to at least one local athlete.

Flynn said it's likely a combination of factors responsible for the marked improvement, from the minor hockey programs to the dedicated coaches. For their part, the instructors at the Summit school offer as much as possible in the short one-week time frame.

Over the last two years, the school has added extra ice times for the elite groups, which Flynn said has been very well received.

'We try and educate them on work ethic, commitment level, and just show them things they can work on all winter. We also try to work with some of the coaches at the camp as well.'

Flynn has watched some of those who started at the school five years ago as players move on to coaching positions with the younger groups, like Jared Tuton, Rob Warner and Adam Henderson.

Tuton now plays NCAA hockey for the University of Alaska while Henderson plays for the Alberta Junior Hockey League's Spruce Grove Saints and has committed to Michigan State for the fall of 2008. Warner plans to play university hockey this fall he has offers from two Canadian schools.

'It's nice to see they've all moved on and good to see they've become not only great hockey players, but great people,' stated Flynn.

With a staff of about 12 instructors and a 'terrific' facility, he said the Whitehorse school rivals any other one in the country, and it just keeps getting better. From his perspective, this year's camp was the best and most efficiently-run yet.

While Flynn called this year's enrollment numbers for the school 'solid', he also said he's surprised it wasn't completely sold out. A camp like this, he said, should be jam-packed.

'I've run camps all across North America and Europe, and you won't find a better facility than this one,' Flynn said, referring to the Canada Games Centre. 'The ice is outstanding, the staff is very co-operative.

'Some people think if you go away to camp somewhere, it's better. That's not necessarily true. People could go to Stockholm (Sweden) and not find a facility like this.

'This is a premier facility with top coaching right here at people's back door, and at a very reasonable cost.'

The Bell Summit Hockey School wrapped up Friday afternoon, after five days of on- and off-ice activities for players ages seven to 17. The athletes were divided into five different groups, three of which attended sessions during the day and two in the evening.

Instructors spent approximately 12-14 hours on the ice every day.