Players to watch for from N.W.T.

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Two past medal winners in figure skating are returning and will be competing in different categories, Liala Bertolini, from Yellowknife, won two bronze medals in the juvenile women's category two years ago and is now competing in the novice women division.

Natalie O'Sullivan, also from the territorial capital, will be in the novice category as well. She earned two silvers as a pre-novice in 1992.

Juvenile Heather Lafoy and intermediate Lisa Buckmaster may also be looking at collecting some metal.

The men's gymnastic team could have a shot at the hotly contested gym ulu, as defending champion Team Alaska isn't sending any men this year. Intee Baksh and Tim Bayly both of Yellowknife, finished first and second in the territorials. On the women's side, Sarag Makepeace (Hay River) and Nadine Jackson of Yellowknife, who's been to the games before, could do well.

In hockey, the teams were made during territorial camps, and the players come from all over the N.W.T. The midget team has a lot of players who, as bantams, at the '92 games, struck gold.

"(We're) anticipating a gold here," said Bill Othmer, who's in charge of hockey for sport North.

The players who make up this year's bantam squad are new to games competition, there isn't a peewee category at the Arctic Winter Games.

Two to watch on this team are Arviat's Jason Lindell, who had a good camp, and Peter Bergman from Yellowknife

Bergman's sister Kim will be going to Slake Lake as a hockey player also, as the youngest member of the women's hockey squad. The women's team earned a gold in a hard fought, double overtime game against Alaska in '92, and seven veterans from that squad are back. Players to keep any eye on include Robin Sproule, Colleen Pura and Janice Dewbury.

The N.W.T. can likely expect medal performances from its team of ski biathletes, many of whom have been on the podium at past games.

Hay River's Moira Green is a good bet in the junior women's category, as is Chris Cadieux in the junior men's, Cathy Ayalik in open women's and Don True in the men's open.

"Any one (of them) could win a medal on a given day," said Dave Hurley, Team N.W.T. chef de mission, said.

As for snowshoe biathlon, juniors Isabelle Endres (Hay River), Ryma Annezuinsa (Yellowknife) and Kevin Lowe (Hay River) have a chance, as does Hay River's Warren Magrum in the open men's category.

The snowshoe contingent could take home some medals, with past medals winner Shelley Gellatly of Fort Smith and Michelle Ramm from Yellowknife in the open women's division. David Milne from Fort Smith and Marcel Basil of Lutsel K'e are also strong snowshoers in the open men's.

Doug Rentmeister, with the Sport North Federation, is enthusiastic about the four soccer squads going down to Slave Lake, but warned that competition is stiff since soccer is the most popular participant sport.

Each of the teams is representing a different region of the N.W.T. The juvenile men's team, hailing from Inuvik, is very competitive, Rentmeister said.

He is expecting a lot from the junior women's entry (from Rankin Inlet), which won a silver at the last games.

The junior men's team is from Rae-Edzo, which played its way to a bronze medal in the World Indigenous Games in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan last summer. In volleyball, Donna Hinchey of Sport North said the junior men's team - made up of players from Yellowknife - is ready for Slave Lake.

"I think they'll be in medal contention," said Hinchey, the sport development officer in charge of the volleyball program.

Individual players to keep an eye on are Steve Mathison, Herb Nakmayak, Chris O'Sullivan and Gustavo Carvajal. Yellowknife is also sending a team from the open women's and open men's category. The junior women's team is composed of players from all over Baffin Island.