Just over a month ago, Danny Flynn was asked about the possibility of a Yukoner one day playing on his hockey team.

'Nothing would please me more,' responded the head coach and director of operations for the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League's (QMJHL) Moncton Wildcats.

So it's likely the only smile bigger than the one on Flynn's face this past weekend, was that of Ted Stephens.

The Yukon forward was informed he had officially earned a spot on the Wildcats roster in a meeting with Flynn Saturday.

He went to training camp on a free agent tryout, after Flynn extended the invitation while in Whitehorse last month for the annual Bell Summit Hockey School.

'We'll sign him this week,'' said Flynn. 'He's a big, rangy, playmaking centre with good skill. He reminds me a lot of Stuart MacRae, who played for Cape Breton and Halifax and had a couple of 100-point seasons (in the QMJHL). He also played for me at St.FX.

'Stephens is big and he's smart. He's got some poise. He's going to need some time, but it's like that for most 17-year-olds coming into the league. He's really good on faceoffs. He's got very good vision. He's more a playmaker.

'He's just raw. Give him a full season of major junior to really get comfortable and I think he's got excellent potential.''

Yukoner Drew Pettitt also made the trip East with Stephens for the Wildcats camp, but Pettitt was cut from the roster Saturday.

Stephens is just the third Yukoner to play major junior hockey and the first from the territory to play in the QMJHL.

Both Bobby House and Jarrett Deuling suited up in the Western Hockey League (WHL) House for the Spokane Chiefs and Brandon Wheat Kings, Deuling for the Kamloops Blazers.

'I was surprised and really happy,' stated Stephens, in an interview from Moncton Tuesday, where he was hitting up a local golf course. 'When I first stepped on the ice ... this is major junior, so I didn't think I would actually make it.

'But after playing a couple of games, I felt like I should be here.'

Stephens said he's proud to be one of a select few from the territory who have made it that far, and he hopes he can inspire others to continue striving for their hockey goals.

'I think it may help other kids to see people from Whitehorse can make big teams down south. Just because you're from the Yukon, it doesn't mean you can't play a high level of hockey.'

Considering the recent success local players have had, Stephens would have a hard time finding anyone to argue that point.

Three Yukoners Adam Henderson, Reid Campbell and Rob Warner played junior A last season in British Columbia or Alberta and several more are currently trying out for junior A teams.

Jared Tuton plans to return to the University of Alaska Anchorage this year while at least three local hockey players are headed to Canadian college or university squads.

Adam Henderson became one of just two from the territory to ever receive a full scholarship to a U.S. university. He'll play one more year of junior A for the Spruce Grove Saints before attending Michigan State in the 2008-09 season.

And while his family now resides in Kelowna, B.C., goaltender Daniel Salamandyk played most of his minor hockey in Whitehorse, and is aiming for a spot on the WHL's Kelowna Rockets this season.

'I think there's going to be a lot more kids playing junior coming up,' said Stephens. 'I think the programs are way better now than in the past.'

That doesn't mean the adjustment to junior is any easier.

Stephens travelled to several tournaments in Alberta and British Columbia last season as a member of the Whitehorse Mustangs midget rep team, and represented Team Yukon at the 2007 Canada Winter Games.

Listed at 6'1 and 170 pounds, he potted an impressive 135 points, including 45 goals, in 55 games last season.

But a good chunk of those games he played were in the Whitehorse Recreational Hockey league. He hasn't had near the amount of competitive experience the rest of the players at camp have over their young hockey careers.

Stephens said it was hard at first, but now he's getting more comfortable. In his QMJHL pre-season debut Sunday, he managed an assist in a 7-3 win over Acadie-Bathurst.

'I was pretty nervous, but after about two shifts I felt normal out there.'

'Stephens is getting better and looking more confident every day,'' agreed Flynn. 'I think given his background of where he's played that once he gets a full season of major junior under his belt he's got a real nice upside.

'I don't think people can fully realize the change in environment that he's coming from. They did a nice job trying to put together a competitive schedule in the Yukon for their Canada Games team last season, but he wouldn't have had the opportunities hockey-wise that kids from bigger areas would have.''

The 17-year-old athlete said he's been blown away by the fan support in Moncton so far and it's not even the regular season yet. About 500 fans attended the rookie camp each day and there were about 3,000 for the exhibition game.

'League games are going to be crazy,' stated Stephens. 'It's so much fun. I think Moncton has probably the best fan support in the whole Q.'

As for the city itself, Stephens said he likes it so far.

'It's big and it has lots of golf courses.'

He's already been staying with his new billet for the upcoming season, and his dad is currently in Moncton helping him get enrolled in school. Now the only thing left to do, is play hockey.

'I'm just going to take it day by day,' said Stephens, acknowledging he may not see tons of ice time initially as a rookie.

'Whatever coach wants to do with me is fine by me. Of course it would be nice to get on one of the top lines, but I'll do whatever he decides.'

Stephens is one of seven centres currently in Moncton's training camp and is the second youngest.

He's already made the club, so the six others are battling it out for the final three spots, although it's possible any one of them, including Stephens, could be moved to the wing.

The Wildcats have 20 forwards total in camp and plan to carry 15 on their roster.

Other free agents still in camp are goaltenders Matt Cooling, Alex Dupuis and Stephen Tayler, and defencemen Andrew Eastman, Myles Gomes, Cody Wilson and Bobby Little.

Eastman and Gomes are expected to be among the Wildcats top five defencemen this season.

'We'll have Stephens along with two, possibly four, of these defencemen on our team,'' said Flynn.

'It's like two years ago when (head coach) Ted (Nolan) and I worked really hard all summer trying to find some key free agents and we ended up with Andrew MacDonald, Matt Marquardt and Tim Spencer.

'The hard work was worth it then (in 2005-06). This season, it looks like the hard work is going to pay off as well because we've got some free agents here that we think can help our team.''

Neil Hodge, Moncton Times & Transcript staff, contributed to this story.