The North's top midget hockey team will kick off its regular season this weekend.

The Prince George Cariboo Cougars will open their season on the road Saturday morning against the Greater Vancouver Canadians in Richmond, B.C. Game time is 11:45 a.m.

The two clubs will face off again Sunday morning at 8:30.

The Greater Vancouver Canadians swept their opening series with the South Island Royals, 5-3 and 7-5.

The current edition of the Cariboo Cougars features two Whitehorse forwards – sophomore Riley Pettitt and rookie Kole Comin.

Pettitt is one of six returnees, alongside goalie Jeremy Matte, defencemen Bryan Allbee and Scott Cullen, and forwards Donovan Law and Jordan Low.

Pettitt, 16, is expected to play an offensive and leadership role this season while playing on one of the top two lines.

He scored four goals and five assists in an injury-shortened campaign last year.

Comin played for the Midget A Mustangs last season, recording seven goals and 15 assists in 25 games.

The 15-year-old is looking to bounce back after suffering a concussion during an exhibition game earlier this month.

The Cougars' home opener will come next weekend when the Fraser Valley Thunderbirds visit Prince George.

The Cougars are one of 11 teams in the British Columbia Major Midget League.

The team is made up of northern hockey players from the area surrounding Prince George, with boundaries at 100 Mile House, Fort Nelson, Valemount, Prince Rupert and the Yukon.

The Yukon connection has seen players such as Andrew Pettitt, David Stephens and Brett Roulston don the Cariboo Cougars jersey in recent years.

Another notable alumnus is NHL forward Brett Connolly of the Tampa Bay Lightning.