SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Two badminton players from Fort Providence have pulled a hat trick by making the NWT teams for three major competitions.

Christina Bonnetrouge of Fort Providence is one of four girls from across the territory chosen for the NWT's badminton team for the Canada Winter Games during a trial in Yellowknife on Sept. 27. Spencer Bonnetrouge also made the team. - Shane Magee/NNSL photo

In March, Spencer and Christina Bonnetrouge both competed at the Arctic Winter Games in Fairbanks, Alaska, and went on to play in July in Regina at the North American Indigenous Games. The pair now have their sights set on the 2015 Canada Winter Games in Prince George, B.C., in February.

Spencer and Christina are among five boys and four girls chosen to make up the NWT's badminton team for the games during a Sept. 27 trial in Yellowknife. The other athletes are from Fort Smith, Hay River, Sachs Harbour and Yellowknife.

"It felt pretty good making the team for the third consecutive time this year," said Spencer.

"I'm pretty excited."

The two Fort Providence athletes had their work cut out for them at the trial. In the week leading up to the trial, they were both on a college tour in B.C. and Alberta organized by Deh Gah School. After an early morning flight from Edmonton, the pair went straight from the Yellowknife airport to trials held at Ecole St. Joseph School.

"It was pretty tiring, but I managed to pull through," he said.

The day was packed with fitness testing, skill drills and a double knock-out tournament. Spencer knew some of the other athletes from the Arctic Winter Games and North American Indigenous Game. He used that familiarity to his advantage when they hit the courts.

In the boys double knock-out tournament, Spencer and Casey Tai of Sachs Harbour went head-to-head as they fought for top place. The two were so well matched that they had to go through not one, but two final games.

Spencer was undefeated going into the final, but Tai challenged him and forced the first game to three sets, beating him in the third.

The second game went to three sets as well, but Spencer was able to pull through and claim the final win. The 18-year-old said he's excited that both he and Christina made the team.

He expects they will be doing a lot of practicing together in the leadup to the games. Although he's feeling well prepared because of his previous experience at the Arctic Winter Games and North American Indigenous Games, Spencer expects the competition in Prince George to be even harder.

"I'll kind of have to step up my game," he said.

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