N.W.T athletes are excited and ready to compete in the Arctic Winter Games

Excitement levels are peaking for young athletes heading off to compete in the Arctic Winter Games.

Thesport competition for11-to 18-year-old northern and Arctic athletes will takeplace this year in Alaska and see athletes competingin sports such ashockey, skiing, and snowshoe biathlon.

"I feel like everybody from the Northis getting ready for this moment," said River Whitehead of the N.W.T., who will compete in boys hockey at the games.

"Opening ceremonies, you're just going to get goose bumps. And then as soon as you step foot on the ice, I feel like [I'm] just going tobe nervous. And then you're going to be excited as soon as you get that first play in that first pass or that first shot."

That feeling of excitement hits close to home for other athletes as well.

'We can definitely do some damage and bring home that gold'

"We have a great group of guys, and if we all believe we can win, we can definitely do some damage and bring homethat gold," said Cormac Stewart, who will also be competing in boyshockey at the games.

He's most looking forward to the competition and meeting new people, he said.

"It's a good, great opportunity to be a part of something that is really unique around the world and just lucky to be part of it," said Stewart, who competed in cross-countryskiing atthe games last year.

The excitement follows months of hard work and preparation for many athletes.

Whiteheadand his teammates practice on the ice five times a week, he said.They also do additional training to help with the sport.

"Wework on, like, agility and speed, and ... some days we lift weights too just for strength building," he said.

Nate Harris, one of Whitehead's teammates this year, said he competed as a goalie in the last Arctic Winter Games.

Since then, he's been working on improving his skating and puck tracking.

"[I'm] just doing everything I can, so I'm at my best," he said.

'Areally cool opportunity'

Sophia Touesnard from Hay River, N.W.T., has also been working to get herself ready for the games.

"Snowshoes are pretty heavy," she said. "I get really tight in my calves and my thighs. So stretching is, like, a huge game changer for me. I'm also a swimmer and a speed skater, so that has been great for cross-training," she said.

For around two months, she's also been snowshoeing around three times a week to get ready for the gamesand is looking forward to the competition.

"I feel like it's going to be a really cool opportunity," she said.