Northern athletes off to B.C. for Canada Winter Games

Young athletes from Nunavut, N.W.T. and Yukon are heading to Prince George, B.C., for the 2015 Canada Winter Games.

In total, 2,400 athletes from across the country will participate.

Nunavut is sending 24 athletes to compete in four events: badminton, women's curling, short track speedskating and table tennis. 

Nunavut speedskater Halina Crowley will carry her territory's flag at the opening ceremonies tonight. Her teammate Hayden Hickey will be the official sign bearer. 

Nunavut is holding a contest where people who post a photo of themselves cheering on Team Nunavut on Facebook or Twitter using the hashtag #TeamNunavut will have a chance to win a Team Nunavut uniform.

N.W.T. is sending more than 90 athletes in hockey, curling, speedskating, badminton, squash, cross-country skiing, biathlon, judo, target shooting and figure skating. 

Jessica Cox of Fort Smith, assistant coach of the junior girls hockey team, says team members from across the territory played together at a recent tournament in Alberta — where they were undefeated.

"We encouraged the players to take responsibility for their own fitness and nutrition and those can play a big role in a short term competition like the Canada Winter Games," she said.

Team Yukon is sending 101 athletes to Prince George. One of them is Mary McBride, who'll be competing in women's hockey.

"I just want us to all try our hardest and hopefully we win a game," she said.

The opening ceremony was held Friday, February 13. The games run until Sunday, March 1.