The Yukon Wolverine's Program has selected 12 players for the 2009-10 hockey season.

Selections were made after the conclusion of a two day first nations atom I.D. camp, held on Saturday and Sunday at the Canada Games Centre.

The Wolverine's roster for the 2009/2010 hockey season includes the following players:

Brodhagen, Brandon

Butler, Matthew;

Comin, Kaine;

Cooper, Mathew;

Dendys, Jedrek;

Goodman, Cruz;

Jirousek, Lukas;

Lavallee, Ethan;

Leas, Jonas;

McCuaig, Jesse;

Troke, Ryan;

Vallevand, Jordan;

All of its members are second-year Atom players (nine years old, turning 10) and most of them are returning players.

The list doesn't include the goaltenders, who will be identified in the fall.

The Wolverine's program wanted to select the roster now as opposed to waiting until September because of the desire to get a head-start on fund-raising and to do some off-ice conditioning and team building with the players.

This past season, the Wolverines were coached by Randy Merkel.

The team's management committee includes Corinne McKay, Karee Vallevand and Jeanie Dendys.

The three will work together to ensure that all of the decisions regarding programming are fair to everyone involved.

The group will also consult regularly with representatives from both the Yukon Aboriginal Sport Circle and Whitehorse Minor Hockey Association.

The Wolverines initiative was created in September 2008 with the goal of increasing the number of first nation youth involved in mainstream sports programs.

It's long term vision is skill enhancement, but it also promotes leadership, sportsmanship and healthy lifestyles.

The Yukon Wolverine's initial identification camp was held this past October and more than 15 players attended the weekly practices throughout the 2008-09 season.

The majority of the players last season were members of Yukon first nations, including:Champagne/Aishihik First Nations, Kwanlin Dun First Nation, Liard First Nation, First Nation of Nacho Nyak Dun, Selkirk First Nation, Teslin Tlingit Council, Tr'ondek Hwech'in and Vuntut Gwitch'in First Nation.

Other players on the 2008-09 team were members of First Nations n the NWT (Gwich'in Tribal Council and Liidli Koe First Nation), northern British Columbia (Tahltan First Nation) and other First Nations across Canada.

In 2008-09, the team competed in two Outside competitions, winning its division in a First Nations tournament in Anchorage, before going 0-4 in a very tough field in Saskatoon.