It proved to be a bittersweet end to a stellar showing for the Yukon Peewee Mustangs.

The young squad became the second Whitehorse rep hockey team to lose in a championship final at provincials on Friday, dropping the gold medal game 4-1 to Merritt.

The Yukon Bantam Mustangs also lost their provincial final to Vanderhoof in overtime last week.

Last season, the Bantam Mustangs won the first Tier 3 provincial title in Yukon history, setting a new standard for the territory’s hockey program.

In West Vancouver Friday, the Peewee Mustangs dropped their first game of the tournament in the final.

They had previously beaten Vancouver 6-4, Kitimat 10-0, Sooke 8-2 and Trail 7-3.

They downed Dawson Creek 4-1 in the semis on Thursday.

In Friday’s final, Connor Cozens was the only Whitehorse shooter to find the back of the net, with an assist from top point-getter Ashton Underhill – who finished with 13 points.

Defenceman Sasa Jirousek also had 13 points in the tournament, while Josh Wanless went 5-1 between the pipes.

Merritt played well and some tough penalty calls in the final didn’t help matters, Mustangs coach Jakub Jirousek told the Star today.

“We were a better team than them, but our team and especially our d-men were just worn out. They had worked so hard all week. But these guys have a very bright future together.”

Flashy forward Ty Beacon missed the final serving a suspension.

“The whole year, I told them we’re building to learn how to play as a team,” Jirousek said.

And the system the coaching crew implemented paid off at provincials.

“We really came together as a team and it showed. We dismantled teams. Our defencemen as a unit were the best there. We had the least goals against.”

Jirousek said his team played two perfect games – the 10-0 win over Kitimat and the semifinal win over a strong Dawson Creek side.

The Mustangs’ aggressive style of play was thwarted in the final by some strict play-calling by the referee.

“Every time we got in their face to dominate them, we got a penalty,” the coach said, noting penalty minute totals were a lopsided 30 to eight.

Hockey Yukon president Russ Smoler said the Mustangs should be proud of their performances.

“It is a big deal,” he said of the two finals appearances. “I think it shows that our guys are right up there, and it’s good exposure for them as well.”

Smoler said the transfer of the Mustangs from the Whitehorse Minor Hockey Association has proved to be successful, allowing organizers to focus solely on the rep teams.