Things are heating up in the Whitehorse Summer Hockey League with just a couple of weeks remaining in the season.

So far the competition has been tight, including a two-way tie for first place between Casa Loma and Cinderwood. Both teams have 2-1 records.

On Monday, the two squads faced off for round two after Casa Loma handed Cinderwood an opening game loss earlier in July.

This time around, however, it was Cinderwood that got the 'w'. Cinderwood sealed it with a couple of empty net goals, winning 8-5.

Tonight, Ketza has a chance to join the two league leaders as it takes on EBA, which is still looking for its first win. Ketza is currently 1-1, while EBA is 0-2.

EBA has had to deal with some missing players, most notably goalie Brad Gustafson, who is attending a Western Hockey League camp in Medicine Hat. Earlier in the year, the midget goalie signed a contract with the Medicine Hat Tigers.

"They are kind of waiting for him to get back and they have had a few guys that have been missing, but it's been a fun league so far," said league organizer Joe Martin. "Everything is working out well."

This is the second year of operation for the Whitehorse Summer Hockey League which uses recreational hockey rules in its games. Games include two periods, each running 22 minutes. All contests are being played at the Canada Games Centre.

The league's finals are scheduled for July 27 and will pit the first place team against the second ranked squad for overall bragging rights. The remaining two teams play for third place.

Even though it's only in its second year, the summer hockey league has increased its popularity base in the community.

It not only has around 50 players divided up on the four teams, but it also has a wait list of about eight to 10 individuals, Martin said.

"The league is growing in popularity and there's a lot of players that wanted to play that couldn't," he said. "Hopefully next year we can increase the league and get five or six teams as long as we still have the players wanting to play."

The purpose of the league is to aid in the development of younger players. League players include bantam, midget, junior and even some adults.

Cinderwood is one of the younger teams and has several bantam players on it.

The team also has one of the Yukon's top junior players, Ted Stephens, who will be entering his third season with the Quebec Major Hockey League's Moncton Wildcats.

"They have Ted Stephens, who is one of the best players in the league, maybe the best, and he is playing at the top of his game right now," said Martin. "They have a lot of young guys that are learning off Ted, trying to impress him and some of the older players on the team as well."

Martin said both Cinderwood and Casa Loma have been playing well as a team since the league began in July.

"They are just playing real simple really easy hockey and all of them are doing it," he said. "They are all on the same page."

One of the things that sticks out in Martin's mind is how well the younger players are doing competing against some of the older guys.

"It's nice to see that they fit right in and I think they are learning a little bit," he said.

"They don't get to play against this calibre of players all the time. A lot of the junior hockey players are out playing Outside, so it's nice for the young guys to learn a little bit.

"That's kind of the objective anyway. It seems to be working pretty well."