Plenty of smiles could be seen on the faces of players, coaches and parents on Saturday at the Mount McIntyre Recreation Centre for the first annual Yukon Soccer Awards night.

With a turnout of more than 200, even the organizers were beaming as they set up extra chairs and tables to accommodate the higher than expected number of people.

"I think it's something as soccer grows in the community that we really want to take some time to celebrate the accomplishments of our players and keep them involved in playing the sport," said Val Pike a board member of the Yukon Soccer Association and one of the organizers of awards night "It's something that people can do from when they are little kids right up until they are adults."

This is Yukon Soccer's 25th anniversary with organized sport in the territory, which began with the Yukon Youth Soccer Association in 1983. Twelve years after it was first established, the organization would evolve into the Yukon Soccer Association.

Since then the association has grown in leaps and bounds, which currently includes more than 1,700 registered players.

This year's awards night recognized the hard work and dedication of both the players and coaches of the youth representative developmental teams. The boys' and girls' teams included U-12 up to U-16.

The Yukon's rep teams got together for games and practices multiple times a week during the outdoor season. Those same teams would also compete in Outside tournaments, which included the nationals.

Three players on each team were given a trophy that recognized an individual achievement in the categories including leadership, most spirited and most improved. Players have the option of taking the trophy down to Dave's Trophy Express to have their name engraved on it, courtesy of the Yukon Soccer Association.

Team coaches had the final selection for award winners on Saturday.

Winners on the U-12 boys' team (previously known as Huskies) included Mike Bennett for leadership, Jono Runions for the most team spirit and Andrew Scoffin was named as the most improved.

Julianna Campbell was one of the players awarded on the U-14 girls' team that was formally known as the Klondike Blizzards. Campbell, 13, took home the leadership trophy, which she said meant a lot to win.

"I always try to help everyone because I think it's important that everyone feels the same even if we are all different levels, so I was kind of excited when I won."

Emily Wilson, who has been a member of the Blizzards since late December, was given the most improved player trophy.

This was special for Wilson, who said she joined the team to improve her skills as a soccer player.

"I joined the team last Christmas and most improved means that I have gotten to be a better player all around."

Christina Anderson was named as the most team spirited player on the Blizzards.

The three U-13 boys' players on the team previously known as Wolverines included Gage Preece for leadership, Colin Kabanak for most team spirit and Logan Frasher for most improved.

Winners on the U-14 girls' squad that was known as Wildfire 94's were Mary Bennett, who won the leadership trophy, while Holly Bull was named as the player with the most team spirit and Claire Lindsay was the most improved.

William Thompson won the leadership award for the U-14 boys' team that was known as the Rangers. The team's most spirited player was Ryan Burke and Kieran Small was the most improved player.

The leadership award for the U-15 girls' squad, formally known as the Wildfire 93's was Avery Enzenauer, while Jennifer Mackeigan was the most team spirited and most improved went to Taylor Barr.

Jack Lanigan , who played on the U-15 boys' team that was called the Wolves this past season, won the leadership trophy. Fellow teammate Theoron Richards was awarded with the most improved trophy and Dillon Vickerman was named as most team spirited.

The U-16 boys' squad, known as the Krushers, gave awards to David Ratcliffe, Jonathan Quarton and Nick Gillen. Ratcliffe took home the leadership trophy, while Quarton was named as the player with the most team spirit and Gillen won the most improved award.

In addition to awarding players on Saturday, coaches were also recognized and given an engraved sterling steel travel mug.

Coaches that were recognized on Saturday included Monique Bennett, Charly Kelly, Amy MacDonald, Dave White, Arnold Hedstrom, Brian Banks, Kelly Cooper, Bruce Thomson, Patti Flather, Arnold Hedstrom, Renzo Ordonez, Danielle Lang and John McPhail.

Brian Gillen, president of the Yukon Soccer Association, said he is confident about the awards night becoming an annual tradition. Gillen said it would also be nice to expand it to include all of the leagues under the Yukon Soccer Associations umbrella.

"All it needs is a plan, enough time and a few more volunteers to help put it together because that type of an event will be much bigger and much more intensive to organize, but it would be great," he said. "That's a huge plan and it would be great to think we would get to that down the road, but we have to start somewhere, so we are starting with this group."

Jake Hanson, the head coach, technical director for the Yukon Soccer Association, said it's important to recognize the achievements of the kids in the program.

"I am a real believer that success breeds success and I think that one form of success is when you are recognized for your achievements," he said.

He said it is also important to recognize the contributions made by the coaches.

"There's so much that a coach and managers, as well, put into a team that most wouldn't realize unless they have been in that position," Hanson said. "So as well as recognizing the players for their achievements, I think it was really important and special that the coaches were recognized and I think maybe that, if anything, was long overdue."

Hanson said he had no expectations with the first awards night, but he was pleasantly surprised with the turnout.

"I don't know that anybody expected the turnout we had tonight," he said. "I think this overwhelms the organizers in a positive way, the reception to this sort of event. If we weren't before, we are now ready for an event like this on an annual basis."