The 2020 Arctic Winter Games speed skating team held their tryouts early in December and have chosen the eight athletes who will represent the Yukon at the Games.

Coach Phil Hoffman said there were nine athletes who tried out, which is on par with what was expected at the trial.

Speed skating features two age categories, juvenile, born between July 2000 and June 30, 2005, as well as junior, July 2005, to June, 30 2008.

Of the eight athletes, Hoffman said six have been to at least one Arctic Winter Games and one has competed at a Canada Winter Games.

Hoffman is no stranger to coaching at Arctic Winter Games and expects the Yukon skaters to have some strong races.

“Expectations are fairly high,” said Hoffman. “A couple of them should be on the podium or win the division.”

In Hoffman’s experience, it’s the Yukon’s neighbour to the east who he says is the contingent to beat.

“The Northwest Territories are pretty strong and they can clean up,” said Hoffman. “Nunavut tends to be up and down and Alaska brings a small team.”

All nine contingents will be sending a team.

The Games begin on March 15 and go until the 22nd. Leading up to the AWG, Hoffman said the team has been hard at work at the rink.

“We are working on conditioning and technique,” said Hoffman. “We are working on cornering and straightaways.

“There is always something to work on. Speed skating is a very technical sport to skate well and fast.”

The speed skaters will compete in four distances plus team relays and Hoffman said they are working on making sure the athletes are ready to compete in all the categories.

“It varies per skater,” said Hoffman when asked if some skaters specialize in a distance. “Strong skaters do well across the board. We don’t want them just focusing on one event. We are working on all aspects, working on the whole.”

Some of the races there will be up to six athletes on the ice at a time. Hoffman said this can be intimidating and spoke about the strategy in such races.

“It varies on the skater,” said Hoffman. “Some like to get out front and keep it. In long distances, some like to stay behind and draft. Different people have different strategies but most don’t want to lead right away.”

The atmosphere at the Games will be unmatched but Hoffman said the team is trying to replicate what the energy in the arena will be like.

“It’s different for sure,” said Hoffman. “We set up drills to simulate races but it doesn’t quite compare to an actual event.”

To help with some of the newer athletes on the team, Hoffman said the coaching staff will rely on some of the veterans of the unit.

“For sure, the more experienced ones are role models,” said Hoffman. “They will help with what to do at races and how to train.”

If anyone wants to go watch the speed skating, Hoffman said they can expect to see exciting races.

“The general public is getting into short track,” said Hoffman. “This is where it starts. It’s exciting to watch.”

Speed skating is one of the fastest sports featured in the AWG. It has been a staple of the Games since 1984 when it made its first appearance at the Games in Yellowknife.