86 year-old pool shark in the making among record number of Yukoners off to Canada 55+ games

When 77-year-old Evelyn Pasichnyk found out she was getting a new hip, she knew she needed to pivot if she wanted to go to the Canada 55 Plus Games in Quebec City. 

"I had to do something easier because I wasn't allowed to golf or do other things like that," she said. 

So Pasichnyk picked up a pool cue.

"I'm new to the game other than half a dozen games in a small community years and years ago," said Pasichnyk. 

Pasichnyk is one of six women on Yukon's 8-ball pool team.

That's the most women the Yukon has sent to the games for pool.

"We're laughing about trying to make special kinds of shots — we just want to hit the ball in the hole right now."

Joan Wilson is another pool player heading to Quebec.

At 86 years-old, she is the oldest on the team and the newest to the game.

Wilson only started playing a little over a year ago.

Now she's hooked.

"I don't have a lot of energy, I just do it," said Wilson. "For my daughter it's been a little rough because she keeps saying, 'Mom do you want to go anywhere?'

"Oh no, no I have to go play pool."

Wilson says most of the pool team only met recently through their shared desire to try something new.

Despite that, she's confident they'll do well in Quebec.

"We play together so much we've become friends," said Wilson. "We know each other so well and we've become a team and we're going to go to Quebec and show it."

Over on the the track, Sheila Senger has been using a secret weapon of sorts to train for the games.

The 77-year-old has been running alongside 16-year-old Kate Tobler.

The young Yukoner is prepping for next summer's Canada Games.

"She's my carrot and I'm the rabbit and I'm running after them," said Senger, who will be running the 50-metre, 100-metre and 200-metre sprints.

Get out there don't sit in front of the television.- Sheila Senger, 77

Tobler says Senger has been motivating her just as much.

"She's actually my role model, she has so much energy, it's impressive," said Tobler. "I'm expecting a few gold medals."

Senger says while winning some races would be nice, it's not what's important.

"I think the whole idea is to get out there don't sit in front of the television," said Senger. "Get out there and move and by participating in sports it keeps me active and also keeps my brain active."

Senger is not alone in realizing the benefits of staying active as she ages.

A record number of Yukoners are going to this year's games. More than 160 have signed up to compete. They'll be doing so across 12 different events.

When it comes to popularity one sport stands alone this year — 27 Yukoners are on the pickleball team.

Doug and Melanie Harris are two of them.

"Friends that had been playing for a long time introduced us to it and we've been hooked since," said Melanie.

A hockey player and soccer player most of his life, Doug said, today, he's all in on pickleball.

"It's just great," said Harris. "It's about the levels, we can play whomever we want and it's always a lot of fun."

The Canada 55 Plus Games run from Aug. 27 to Aug. 30.