It's a sure sign that a sports program is doing what it should when the winning results show up from top to bottom.

On Monday, the Yukon Soccer Association added another feather in its cap when the Yukon Arctic Wolves under-13 boys' rep soccer team struck gold at a Labour Day tournament in Surrey, B.C.

Stepping off the plane Tuesday afternoon with their medals around their necks, the Wolves' became next in a long line of soccer teams that have proved the territory is doing some serious damage Outside in the sport.

From three gold medals in the 2004 Arctic Winter Games to indoor gold for the Wild Things last winter, bronze for the Grizzlies last month and gold for the men's Canada Games team at a Tier 1 tournament earlier this summer, the results have been pouring in.

'I am so happy and proud of these guys,' said Renzo Ordonez, head coach of the Wolves. 'The team we beat in the final, the coach told me they had about 6,000 kids from Surrey at tryouts and just 25 made it.

'So we are just super happy that Yukon soccer is really coming up.'

The Wolves played four games at the Surrey tournament, winning two and losing two.

'We lost our first game 7-1, but we learned so much from that game,' said Dillon Vickerman. 'Then we totalled the next people.'

Vickerman said he was very appreciative of the referee the squad drew in all of their round-robin games, especially after she stuck up for him and threw out an unruly parent. The Wolves made it to the gold-medal final on a points-based system, where they would face a team who hadn't been beaten in a year and a half.

'Everybody was pumped up,' said Vickerman.

It was a close match, with the two teams in a scoreless tie until Jeff Bell kicked in the winner after a scramble in front of the net. Bell said he was in the right place at the right time, picking up one of numerous rebounds. His teammates were somewhat surprised at the goal.

'Jeff's a defensive player,' explained Tayo Adamek. 'Then as soon as he goes up to striker, he scores.'

While Bell would be the hero in the final, Vickerman was quick to praise the play of goaltender Robyn Smith, who recorded two shutouts in the tournament, as well as Riley Simpson-Fowler.

'Riley really kept the ball up there so much.'

Vickerman was one of numerous players who were hampered by injuries, but he played through with a sore ankle anyway, which he said was hard because he's a sweeper.

'He still kicked butt,' smiled teammate Joaquin McWatters.

Ordonez said the entire team was impressive, adding teamwork was the key to their gold medal victory.

'I don't have a star player. All of the players on the field were super good. They played as a team and stuck with the system together.

'My voice is a bit hoarse right now because I spent so much time yelling at the kids, trying to tell them how to play soccer. And they listened. I''m so glad to have a bunch of kids so willing to play soccer. It makes my life so easy.'

With just a few weeks of practice before heading to the tournament, since a lot of the players were on summer vacation before that, Ordonez wasn't so sure the team could come together on time, to really make their mark. But as soon as they got to Surrey, he said, he was impressed with what he saw and not just on the field.

'Every time we went to a restaurant or hotel, we got nice feedback,' he said. 'The kids were amazing.'

The players were quick to return the sentiment to their head coach, who they called 'the best coach in the world.' In fact, it's evident in talking to the players that not only do they respect Ordonez, they admire him.

'Renzo taught us everything,' said Adamek. 'Without Renzo, we'd suck.'

There are probably numerous reasons the territory is seeing so much improvement in soccer over the past couple years, but coaching and the right support staff have made a huge difference. So too, said Ordonez, has the support of parents.

'They are all just willing to co-operate and they're always there for you,' he said.

The players were quick to thank their parents, too, which quite honestly is rare at that age.

'We want to thank Tracey (Lanigan), because she put together our whole team and helped organize the tournament,' said Vickerman. 'Thanks to all the parents.'

A special thanks went to McWatters' 'Grandpa Aubry,' who met the team in Surrey and helped out with transportation, as well as arranged a trip to the waterpark.

Thanks aside, it's safe to say the first trip for the Wolves was a successful one, with the team gaining important experience for the seasons to come.

'It's so much more serious down there,' said Vickerman, who counted learning to play more aggressive as one of the valuable lessons learned.

'I learned never to give up when you're losing,' added Adamek.

All of those lessons will come in handy when the indoor season starts later this fall.

The Wolves plan on keeping as much of the team intact as possible for next year, with indoor practices throughout the winter. Ordonez said there is also talk of attending a couple of indoor tournaments in January.

'The coach of the team we beat in the final, he told me we have good sprinters, our team was so fast, so quick. If we stick together, we could have an amazing team in the next couple of years.'

Which is why the coach is hopeful they will be able to book time at the new soccer facility in the multiplex. He said it's important the team have a good training ground, for the sake of Yukon soccer.

In the future, better outdoor fields will be necessary as well, something which has been seriously talked about considering the holes in the current ones.

'(In Surrey), we were playing on a field that has a turf and they (the Yukon kids) were in shock, because everything was so smooth, so nice,' said Ordonez. 'It was like a pool table.'