After a one-year hiatus, Squash Yukon will once again be represented at the Canadian men's team championships, which are being hosted by Yellowknife this weekend.

Cameron Webber, Blaine Tessier and Steve Fecteau left Wednesday for the N.W.T. capital, where they will be up against teams from across the country. Webber will play the number one position while Tessier will be number two and Fecteau number three.

'It's pretty stiff competition,' said Webber, who also went to the team championships in 2001, 2002 and 2003. 'I think Quebec has been on top for the last few years, Quebec and Ontario. Manitoba is all of the sudden a strong team as well.

'It's the only chance we're going to get to play guys at this level.'

The Yukon, which didn't send a team to the event last year due to financial restraints (it was in Ontario) is seeded last in the tournament, just behind the N.W.T. Webber said that's just the way he likes it.

'Then we have nothing to lose,' he stated. 'We're just there to get the experience and have fun. There's a good aspect of camaraderie between the teams.'

This is the first time Webber has played in the first position at the tournament. Tessier was number one the last time around. But all three men have a fair bit of experience competing at the national level, so Webber believes they will be able to hold their own.

'We've been training the last couple of months and playing a lot. We're looking to beat the N.W.T. That will be our closest competition, I think.'

The N.W.T. will enter two teams in the championships this year an A team and a B team because they are the host.

Webber said playing at nationals is always 'a humbling experience,' because Yukon squash players are only used to playing each other, and it's usually the same five or six players climbing up the rankings.

Marie Desmarais, the sport co-ordinator for Squash Yukon, is confident Webber, Tessier and Fecteau will be great ambassadors for the territory, pointing out they are the most skilled players the Yukon has.

'It's really nice to have Cameron back (he was away at school) here playing. It's nice for Blaine and Steve to have him to compete against. He's a fine player. He used to be on the Canada Winter Games team when we went to Newfoundland (1999).

'These guys are definitely our top three players.'

Desmarais said it was important for Squash Yukon to send a team to this year's nationals specifically, because they are being held in Yellowknife.

Whitehorse has hosted the women's team nationals before and the squash club wants to show the N.W.T. their support.

'It's nice when they offer those big championships to small towns,' she said. 'I know (the N.W.T. will) do a great job.'

Squash Yukon is also sending two officials to the championships, Don Emond and Chris Toleman. The event will be a chance for the two men to move up a level on the officiating ladder.

They will referee some high calibre matches and if they get so many of their calls during those matches correct, they can move up another level.

The Yukon team is making the trip thanks to Better Bodies, Whitehorse Beverages and Squash Yukon.

Meanwhile, several Yukon junior squash players are currently preparing for the annual Pacific Northwest tournament, which will be held in Victoria Feb. 10.