After a good performance on Friday, it was a stunning loss for the Whitehorse Huskies Saturday as they were battered 13-2 by the Fort St. John Flyers.

Coach Randy Merkel said the key issue was discipline, as the Huskies racked up six penalties in the first period, and lost two key players to game misconduct after fist fights on the ice.

The frustration the Huskies felt was hard not to notice, as the play got rougher, but the puck stayed out of the Flyers' net.

"I can tell you we're a lot better team than what happened Saturday night,” Merkel promises. "We're a hell of a lot better team than that.”

Fans that attended the Friday night game got to see what the Huskies are really made of, as they pushed the score closer, finishing three goals behind the Flyers at 6-3.

Merkel said it was much better representation of what the team is capable of.

"We had a really good game Friday night,” Merkel said.

What made the difference Friday evening, Merkel said, is that his team kept their composure and stayed disciplined, earing fewer penalties.

"We played a lot better game,” he said.

The performance Friday set Merkel and the fans to believe there would be a great game on Saturday, which was reflected in the attendance. Friday night 455 people attended the game, and Saturday there were 467, including 83 minor hockey players, their coaches and the Arctic Winter Games female hockey team, all paid for by Yukon Electric.

But the game that did happen Saturday wasn't what Merkel had hoped.

"I guess what you can do is learn from this,” he said. "I will say that it is an eye opener for us.”

The coach says that the first 10 minutes of the game saw the Huskies at their best, but the game quickly deteriorated as the Flyers began to pick up on the team's weaknesses.

"They made us pay for pretty much all of our mistakes,” Merkel said.

One major mistake that cost the team, was the loss of forward Kristian Jefkins in the first period to a game misconduct after a fight with Flyers player Matt Shuya.

Merkel was disappointed to see the forward go, who adds speed to his front line.

Penalties racked up for the Huskies starting in the first 10 minutes and didn't stop, giving the Flyers numerous power plays, of which the team took full advantage.

The Flyers got their first power play goal at 13:56 scored by Kimbi Daniels, while Chris Difancescantonio was out for interference. The assist was credited to Luke Middleton and Ryan Manitowich.

The Flyers finished the first with three goals, and the game seemed out of reach for the Huskies already.

Derek Johnstone finally got the Huskies on the scoreboard with five minutes left in the second period. The assist went to Ryan Gleason and Graham Belak.

With 4:45 left in the second, the Huskies made a critical error, when Johnstone was given a penalty for interference. Just seconds later, Brandon Fleenor was given the Huskies' second penalty for cross checking, to give the Flyers a two-man advantage.

The Flyers capitalized on the opportunity, scoring past Huskies goalminder Cory McEachran as the two side-lined players returned to the ice.

Johnstone was then removed from the game with just over two minutes left for fighting with Flyers player Evan Boire.

"We have to maintain out composure and discipline,” Merkel said.

With two of his top forwards out of the game, the scoring sky-rocketed for the Flyers, and the Huskies were left well behind.

The second period ended with a nice goal from Husky Lucas Fransen, when he tucked the puck into an open side of the net, after spotting the space with a backwards glance.

In total, six goals were scored on McEachran in the second period.

In the third the goal tally for the Flyers continued to climb, as they scored three more.

"We couldn't catch up to them,” Merkel said. "It was a very frustrating game for sure,” he said.

The games did continue to teach Merkel about his new team, and what he will need to do to lift them past the Powell River Regals next week, in the five-game Savage Cup series.

"The imported players make a big, big difference,” Merkel said, adding that they have to stay on the ice in order to make their impact.

The coach continued to work on his lines, and hopes that team building exercises next week once the entire group is in town will help bring them all together to earn a big win for Whitehorse.

"We are trying to get ready right now for April 1-5,” Merkel said. "It's the first game (series) that really matters.”

The imported players will arrive on March 31, and will join the team for two practices ahead of the big game the following night. The team will then have dinner together to help their off-ice bond, that Merkel hopes will carry over into the rink.

The coach said the Regals are not looking for a free pass to the Allan Cup at the end of April, and are preparing to battle with the Huskies.

"I really think we have a chance to make some noise in Powell River,” Merkel said.

"They intend to go to the Allan Cup, and we intend to give them the best possible run we can.”

Tickets for the Savage Cup series will be $30 for a three-game pass. Kids 12 and under, and seniors are $6, and children four and under are free.

Even with the losses over the weekend, Merkel is not disappointed, and appreciated the game that the Flyers brought north.

"If they didn't have that good of a team, I'd be disappointed in the organization,” he said of the Flyers. "Their team came and they gave us their A game.”

Merkel hopes to see more fans out at the five game series.

"This series is very critical to the Huskies' survival.”

Merkel adds that the organization is already looking ahead to next year.

"There's been some growing pains this season. We've come a long way,” he said, adding that it is up to the fans to help at this point. "That's the only thing missing at this point, is fan support and revenue.”

Merkel promises Whitehorse will still be treated to AAA level hockey in the future.

"You haven't seen the last of the Huskies.”