For the first time since 2019, the territorySA国际影视传媒檚 athletic hopefuls were doing their best to impress coaches or evaluators in the hopes of booking their seat on the Team NT charter flights for the Arctic Winter Games.

Those charters will be heading to the 2023 Arctic Winter Games (AWG) in Wood Buffalo, Alta., next month. But first, territorial trials were held from Dec. 8 to 10. More than 750 athletes from around the NWT signed up to compete in several sports, including hockey, cross-country skiing, biathlon and Dene games.

Hockey was held at the Multiplex with the U16 and U19 boys teams being picked, along with the U20 girls outfit. Several communities had players in the mix and when it was all said and done, each team was whittled down to the final 17 players.

Kaylee Grant, head coach of the girls team, said there were some tough decisions that had to be made, especially in goal.

SA国际影视传媒淲e had three really good goaltenders to choose from and we knew someone would be disappointed at the end,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

Unlike most sports, the coaching staffs for hockey have almost no say in what the final rosters will look like. A team of evaluators put together scouting reports for each player and thatSA国际影视传媒檚 what helped the coaches assemble their final roster.

SA国际影视传媒淲e have no role in the selection SA国际影视传媒� we talk with the evaluators and they hand us the team list,SA国际影视传媒� said Grant. SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 happy with what our final roster looks like. We have eight roster players of our 17 from outside Yellowknife, so a good ratio of players. Most of the players we cut were from Yellowknife and itSA国际影视传媒檚 a more territorial team.SA国际影视传媒�

The team includes some veteran players including Emma Wicks, Jenna Demarcke, Kyra McDonald, Emma Carey, Jamie Cluff and Chandelle Leonard. TheySA国际影视传媒檝e all either participated in Arctic Winter Games, Canada Winter Games, National Aboriginal Hockey Championships, or a combination of all three.

Grant said having those players, combined with some young additions to the roster, makes for an exciting outfit.

Futsal took place at the Fieldhouse with NWT Soccer putting the players through their paces. There will be four futsal teams making the trip: two boys and two girls squads, each with a junior and juvenile edition. Futsal is the official version of indoor soccer used by FIFA. It replaces the familiar indoor soccer from past Games. ThereSA国际影视传媒檚 no wall to bounce the ball off of and the ball is more dense than a regular soccer ball.

Cole Clark, NWT SoccerSA国际影视传媒檚 executive director, was on hand to help with the selection, and he said he liked what he saw.

SA国际影视传媒淭here was a relatively low registration this year, but the players trying out have (amazed) me,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淎ll of them far exceeded the expectations that I put forward. I think weSA国际影视传媒檝e got a really good squad going here. I was expecting some people may have not played futsal before, but they have transitioned and adapted to the game very well.SA国际影视传媒�

Several sports were still finalizing their rosters as of press deadline. You can see a full list of rosters in a future edition of Yellowknifer.