Canada Winter Games: 2nd batch of northern athletes head to B.C.
Many athletes aren't aspiring to the podium, but are looking forward to the experience
The second batch of athletes competing in the Canada Winter Games left for Prince George, B.C., on the weekend.
Teams from Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut will be competing in events that include curling, snowboarding, squash, hockey, table tennis and badminton.
Many of the competitors aren't aspiring for the podium, but have set personal goals for themselves.
Catherine Seal is the lone synchronized swimmer representing the territories, taking part in her first big competition. The 17-year-old Yukoner will be competing solo against 100 other athletes and hopes to finish in the top 80.
Squash player Mustafa Syed, 17, may be one of the more experienced athletes from Yukon, having already competed in the Canada Winter Games at age 12 and in national squash competitions.
His expectation is "not to get wrecked by Ontario," which he says will provide the toughest competition.
Yukon's male hockey team is hoping to hold its own.
"The main goal is just to play good in our group and maybe get out and play some higher-end teams," says Whitehorse player Joe Stokes, 15.
Snowboarder optimistic
"I'm basically going to try my best, have fun," she says.
Yukon has 101 athletes competing in the games, N.W.T. has 96 and Nunavut has 24. Yukon is the only territory to reach the podium so far, thanks to 17-year-old biathalete Nadia Moser, who has won all three of the territory's medals — one silver and two bronze.
Nunavut and N.W.T. did not win a medal in the 2011 Canada Winter Games in Halifax, N.S., while Yukon took home five.
This year's games brings 2,400 athletes together from 800 communities across the country. The games run until March 1.