The Whitehorse Yukon Selects FC men’s team travelled to Queens University in Kingston, Ont., to compete in their second Futsal Canadian Championship from April 11-14.

It is the fourth year the Championships have been held and began with just Ontario and Quebec before the other provinces joined.

“It is really cool, well done and professional,” said player and coach Jake Hanson about the Championships.

The Selects started the tournament against the Calgary Villains Elite. The Selects dropped the game 9-0, and Belgie Nunez was named the team’s player of the game for outstanding play.

Hanson said the Yukon had the youngest team of the competing delegations.

“We were the only team with players under 17,” said Hanson. “There is a fantastic group of U17 players (in the Yukon) and we brought six to give them an early look. They didn’t look out of place and had good impact.

“They played every minute and looked comfortable out there and were strong on the ball.”

The team’s next game was against Saskatoon Olimpia SK FC, a team the Selects were familiar with after playing them at the Prairie Futsal Championships.

“We didn’t have a lot participate in both (Futsal Championships and Prairie Championships), said Hanson. “It was nice to have some senior players come back in, see video and get an idea of how they play.”

The Olimpia side was last year’s bronze medallist team and this year they finished just outside the podium in fourth.

The team from Saskatchewan took the game 11-4 from the Selects - Ashely Jordan was given player of the game honours for the Selects after potting two goals in the effort.

Hanson said the Futsal Canadian Championships were very competitive.

“The competition was very high,” said Hanson. “The smaller market teams are doing their best. The provincial teams, most of them had national team players or arena players.”

The team’s third game of the tournament came against Toronto Idolo Futsal. The Selects dropped the game 15-4. Joseph Hanson, 15, and one of the U17 players, led the team’s offence netting one goal and notching two assists.

In their final game of the tournament, the Selects played Rankin FC from Nunavut. The Selects downed Rankin FC 6-1. Goalkeeper Callum Weir was the team’s player of the game after posting a second-half shutout. Weir, 15, was one of the six U17 players at the tournament.

Hanson believes the future is bright for futsal in the Yukon.

“It feels like we are right there and familiar,” said Hanson. “We have strong futsal players in Whitehorse.”

Hanson said the Yukon stacks up better on the court than on the field.

“It’s interesting because at outdoors, playing outside is a greater challenge,” said Hanson. “On the court, in futsal, it feels like we are there. In the provinces, there are lots of good outdoor players and they are transitioning to futsal.”

In the Yukon, Hanson said they have been preparing for futsal for awhile.

“On the court, in futsal, it feels like we are there,” said Hanson. “We have been playing the same game for a while and preparing for this game.”

Ashley was the Whitehorse Yukon Selects FC leading goal scorer, notching five goals in the tournament. Marten Sealy potted three goals and one assist for the team. Two U17 players, Joseph Hanson and Bennett Kishchuk were in the team’s top five in scoring.

The bronze medal was won by Gta Futsal from Ontario. They downed Olimpia 6-4.

The championship game was played between Sporting Montreal FC and Toronto Idolo Futsal, the same team the Selects played in their third game. The team from Ontario was able to down their Quebec rival 8-7 in a close match to win the Futsal Canadian Championship.