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Two of the Yukon鈥檚 most recognizable athletes once again earned the highest sport honours at the Sport Yukon鈥圓wards Night.

But other major awards went to the younger generation, revealing a glimpse of the future stars the territory lays claim to.

Cyclist Zach Bell claimed his seventh International Athlete of the Year award, while cross-country skier Emily Nishikawa earned her fourth straight International Female of the Year honour at the Yukon Convention Centre last night.

Meanwhile, younger athletes Annah Hanthorn and Pelly Vincent-Braun picked up their respective female and male National/Territorial Athlete of the Year awards.

A crowd of approximately 400 athletes, coaches, parents and volunteers packed the convention centre for the 39th annual event, which saw hundreds of awards handed out.

Other major award winners included Krista McKinnon as Coach of the Year, Lynda Harlow as Administrator of the Year, and the Special Olympics Yukon soccer team as Team of the Year.

The evening was capped by the posthumous induction of Bill and Diana Simpson into Sport Yukon鈥檚 Hall of Fame for their formative work with the ElderActive Recreation Association.

The Simpson children 鈥� Stuart, Doug and Susan 鈥� accepted the award on behalf of their late parents, and received a standing ovation.

鈥淢om and Dad would have been very proud to be recognized,鈥濃�圫tuart said during a short speech.

Special Olympics coach McKinnon was the first to claim a major award for her work last season.

鈥淚t鈥檚 not very often I鈥檓 speechless,鈥� she told the crowd. 鈥淭hank you so much. This is great, but mostly I鈥檓 proud of my athletes.鈥�

Bell and Nishikawa鈥檚 honours followed. The cyclist admitted he was blown away by the event鈥檚 attendance.

鈥淚鈥檝e been to a few B.C. sport awards, and we鈥檝e needed about half this much room,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥坮eally appreciate the honour again this year, although I think the competition鈥檚 getting pretty stiff, so it might be the last time you see me up here.

鈥淩emember my face,鈥� he chuckled.

Nishikawa鈥檚 mother, Joan Stanton, accepted the award in her stead.

鈥淓mily is probably fast asleep in northern Sweden,鈥濃�圫tanton explained.

鈥淪he鈥檚 there preparing for the first World Cup races of her season.鈥�

Stanton read a prepared statement from the winter Olympian, thanking the community for all of the support she received in Sochi earlier this year.

Her older brother, Graham Nishikawa, received a special plaque for guiding blind skier Brian McKeever to multiple gold medals at the Paralympics this season.

Harlow went on to claim top administrator honours for her work with the Yukon Freestyle Ski Team.

鈥淚鈥檓 honoured to have the support,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he freestyle team is the best. ... I actually feel very lucky to be involved in this organization.鈥�

Whitewater paddler Vincent-Braun claimed his first major award after becoming the first Yukoner to earn a roster spot on the Canadian junior slalom team at the age of 15.

鈥淚鈥檇 like to thank my parents for helping me get here,鈥� he said, before honouring the local canoe and kayak club and his coaches.

Cross-country skier Annah Hanthorn, 19, thanked her coach and teammates after a season in which she earned three bronze medals at nationals.

鈥淚 love skiing here,鈥� said the native of Fort McPherson, N.W.T. 鈥淭he trails are a lot smoother and it鈥檚 fun to go fast.鈥�

Special Olympic鈥圷ukon鈥檚 national gold-medal winning soccer team was also honoured.

Captain Gaetan Michaud said the shootout win was one for the ages. He lauded Michael Sumner for his clutch gold medal-winning strike 鈥� his first of the year.

鈥淚 just couldn鈥檛 believe it,鈥濃�坰aid Michaud. 鈥淗e tried and tried to score all year. He turned 18 the week before, and I thought 鈥榃ell, what better way to do it?鈥� It took a lot of hard work.鈥�

The evening also included the launch of local sport historian John鈥團irth鈥檚 Yukon Sport:鈥圓n Illustrated Encyclopedia, which he sold and signed at a booth at the back of the room.

Master of ceremonies Ron McFadyen deftly guided the audience through the evening鈥檚 program, and was rewarded for his efforts with a Ted Harrison painting presented by Sport Yukon president George Arcand at the conclusion of the event.