INUVIK - Lance Gray, 17, sits looking relaxed and cheery while surrounded by five of his close friends at Cloud Nine Restaurant on Aug. 13, about an hour before he was to depart for Prince Edward Island to compete at the Canada Summer Games.

Sitting behind him was his mother, Camellia Gray, looking restless but wearing an ear-to-ear smile.

Lance Gray gets some encouragement from Donna-Lynn Baskin at the Inuvik airport Thursday afternoon moments before setting off to Prince Edward Island to suit up with the NWT Men's Soccer Team at the Canada Summer Games. - Andrew Rankin/NNSL photo

Her son is among 17 boys selected to play for the NWT Men's Soccer Team at the games, which run from Aug. 15 to 29.

Camellia has been there to support her son after each gruelling tryout, especially last month when the final cuts were made at a 12-day training and final selection camp in Saskatoon.

"I'm so proud of him," she said.

Since January, when Lance was picked to attend the final selection camp, Camellia and her community support team have raised about $1,600 through fundraisers such as barbecues and luncheons to help the team with expenses associated with the games, including travel and lodging arrangements. Each player was given the responsibility to fundraise. Unlike Lance, many of them came from bigger communities, such as Yellowknife, where they were able to raise money in groups.

Lance said he has always been appreciative of his mother's support, on and off the field.

"My mom's always given me all kinds of support. She's crazy about the games and always encouraging me."

The Canada Summer Games in Charlottetown will draw more than 4,000 athletes from around the country. Lance and his teammates will suit up against the country's best.

Before his flight, the young talent said he wasn't particularly nervous yet, but as the games drew nearer, he was getting more "pumped."

"I'm excited about seeing the ceremonies," he said. "I feel some nationalism and some regionalism. People are telling me that I have to be pumped because I'm representing Inuvik, and I do."

He said he was concerned about being away from home for nearly three weeks.

"I probably just miss being around my friends. It starts to get a little lonely, I guess. But I'm staying focused on what I have to do, not losing the ball and making simple passes."

He's hoping at some point he'll be able to move up from his midfield position to forward, where he might get a better opportunity to score a goal.

Along with his mom's support, he's gotten plenty of resistance along the way from the community who have helped him stay sharp and in shape.

"I just call them up whenever I feel like it and they always say 'let's go.' They're great."

Camellia knows her son is prepared and sees the opportunity as a great adventure.

"I hope he continues to get better, he enjoys himself," she said. "He's already responsible. He's such a team player. His leadership skills are really good. I know they'll do well."