DEH CHO - The number of Deh Cho athletes who will be competing at the Arctic Winter Games has quadrupled following a weekend of territorial trials.

Deh Cho athletes competed in a number of sports in locations around the territory from Jan. 28 to 31 for the chance to join Team NWT at the games that will take place in Grande Prairie, Alta, from March 6 to 13.

Carson Mantla, left, from Fort Simpson pulls against Trevor Bonnetrouge from Fort Providence during the finger pull on Jan. 30, one of the Dene Games events at the Arctic Winter Games territorial trials in Dettah. Both competitors made it onto the open men's Dene Games team. - Adrian Lysenko/NNSL photo

Two athletes from Fort Simpson and one from Fort Liard had previously made the team during trials last year.

The original numbers have swelled to 12 thanks to the success of seven athletes from Fort Simpson and two from Fort Providence. The Deh Cho will now be represented in a variety of sports including hockey, soccer, basketball, Dene games, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, speed skating and snowshoe biathlon.

Sydney Larocque-Rowe of Fort Simpson made the cut for the junior women's hockey team. Out of 21 athletes only 17 were chosen.

"I was nervous going in," said Larocque-Rowe.

The hopefuls spent a few classroom sessions focusing on team building before being tested on the ice. The trials in Yellowknife included four ice times, each more than an hour long, in one day.

"They weren't easy," she said.

Players were tested on their agility, puck handling and starts and stops among other skills. Larocque-Rowe, 17, said her skills improved while at the trials.

"I knew if I didn't make it I was still proud of myself because I tried my hardest," she said.

On Saturday, after a drill and two scrimmages the team was chosen. Larocque-Rowe said she was elated when she learned she made the team.

"I couldn't stop smiling," she said.

Larocque-Rowe will be one of six defense players on the team. To prepare for the games Larocque-Rowe said she's already started training and watching her food intake.

Another Fort Simpson athlete is also excited about her chance to go to the games.

Charlene Deneyoua, 18, made the snowshoeing team as a junior during the trials in Fort McPherson.

Deneyoua competed at the Arctic Winter Games two years ago in snowshoe biathlon. Because she's now too old for that competition Deneyoua decided to try just snowshoeing.

"It was really fun," said Deneyoua about the trials.

The trails were sheltered from the wind and the snow conditions were good, she said. After competing in the five km and 7.5 km races and the 800, 200 and 100 metre sprints Deneyoua won the overall event in her age category.

Deneyoua said her strongest performances were in the longer races. She kept a substantial lead in the 7.5 km race.

To prepare for the games Deneyoua plans to run up and down hills to increase her stamina and speed and also work on her sprints.

Madison Pilling, a speed skater from Fort Simpson, also gave a strong performance at the trials.

Pilling won three of the juvenile female races and tied in the fourth. She broke her own personal best time by skating 500 metres in 56.78 seconds.

Deh Cho athletes chosen for team NWT

Fort Simpson:

Amanda Bradbury - intermediate female soccer

Nicole Cholette-Antoine - intermediate female soccer

Charlene Deneyoua - junior girls snowshoeing

Michael Gast - midget male cross-country skiing

Sydney Larocque-Rowe - female hockey

Carson Mantla - open men's Dene games

Madison Pilling - juvenile female speed skating

Thomas Roche - men's basketball

Jackie Thompson - intermediate female soccer

Fort Providence:

Trevor Bonnetrouge - open men's Dene games

Gavin Head - open men's Dene Games

Fort Liard:

Blair Kotchea - junior female snowshoe biathlon