Yellowknife (May 09/03) - Sports fans will get an extra treat at the 21st annual Spring Trade Show. Three Edmonton Eskimos will be this year's special guests.

Receiver Ed Hervey, linebacker Singor Mobley and recently retired Jed Roberts will travel to Yellowknife for the trade show.

The three players will be on hand to sign autographs and answer any questions football fans might have.

Dave Jamieson, the Eskimos' director of communications and marketing, said that during the off season the players like to "spend time visiting communities outside of Edmonton."

He said the Eskimo Football Club knows it has fans not just from the Edmonton area but from places across Canada.

"We like to get out of our comfort zone and go to where the people live," Jamieson said.

The players will have posters on hand as well as a few other giveaways for kids.

They had hoped to be able to bring the Grey Cup to Yellowknife, but it's doubtful that will be able to happen.

"We would have to pry it out of the Montreal Alouettes' hands," Jamieson said, jokingly.

During the two-day visit, the football players will also visit a few schools as part of a Stay in School program. Some of the schools include St. Patrick High School and Weledeh Catholic School.

The program has been running for over 10 years.

The players will talk to students about the benefits of staying in school, the effects of bullying and the importance of making good life choices.

The players will be "delivering a positive message to kids," Jamieson said.

First Air, with MacLab Hotels, is sponsoring the Eskimos' trip to Yellowknife.

"I like the trade show," said Michael Olson, First Air's director of sales. "You always see a lot of people you haven't seen all winter."

Olson said that First Air isn't involved in the trade show to "try to sell our name (because) everybody knows our name."

Instead, it's about "being part of the community," said Olson. "We support the chamber and the smaller businesses in the chamber."

Olson encourages everyone to "come on down to the (First Air) booth because there'll be lots of surprises this year."