Assistant coach Candice MacEachen says her Team North female squad attending next week’s National Aboriginal Hockey Championships is a contender.

Seven of the players making up the roster for the female team are from the Yukon, eight are from the Northwest Territories and two are from Nunavut, she said in a interview this week before departing Thursday for Mississauga, Ont.

“Ontario has a lot stronger girls but we definitely keep up with B.C. and Team Atlantic,” said MacEachen. “We always come in as the underdogs but we surprise a lot of the teams with the talent we have. Last year we beat Alberta.”

There are four Yukoners on the Team North male squad.

The six-day, eight-team tournament begins Monday and runs through to the following Saturday.

Team North female is seeded in the same pool as Ontario, Manitoba and B.C.

“We have a strong team going,” MacEachen said. “This is probably one of the strongest we have had in the last four years so hopefully we will surprise more teams.”

An RCMP officer currently posted in Teslin, MacEachen has been playing the game herself since she was three growing up in Nova Scotia. She has been coaching since she was 15.

“I love the game.”

MacEachen said the experience of playing in the national aboriginal championships is about hockey, but it’s also about inspiration and culture.

This year, for instance, an elder from Nunavut will be accompanying Team North.

During the training camp leading up to the opening game Monday players will be spending time with the elder and listening to stories.

“And a lot of them really take advantage of that and take pride in finding out more about their culture,” she said, adding she’s certainly learned a lot in her four years with the team.

MacEachen said while most of the financial support for Team North is coming from the Aboriginal Sport Circle NWT, the Yukon Indian Hockey Association also provides assistance.

Individual First Nations such as the Teslin Tlingit Council provide support for their athletes as well, she said.

MacEachen said the national championship is about competing – and having fun.

“If they play their hearts out, it’s anyone’s game,” she said.

Representing the Yukon on Team North female are: Monica Johnson, Sierra Oakley, Shania Hogan, Destiny Taylor, Zoe Leas, Maya Oakley and Samantha McLeod. John Hill of Hay River, N.W.T is the head coach.

Representing the Yukon on Team North male are: Jonas Leas, Kaine Comin, Johnny Elias and Josh Tetlichi.