The Whitehorse Huskies lost more than their season finale Saturday; they also saw a goaltender suffer a freak hand injury.

Saturday’s starter Brad Gustafson left the game following the first period with a broken finger on his glove hand, head coach Mike Tuton said.

The Huskies, sponsored by Nuway Crushing Ltd., were down 4-2 at the time.

JJ Gainsforth replaced his teammate between the pipes – holding his team in the contest with a valiant effort – but the Huskies’ attempt at a comeback failed in an eventual 6-5 loss to the Powell River Regals.

The Huskies had beaten the Regals 5-3 Friday, thanks to a stellar effort by Gainsforth, who was named the club’s top dog post-game.

The series split sees Yukon’s senior hockey club finish the season with a 4-2 record. The team now awaits a playoff opponent.

“As far as the standings go, it doesn’t mean anything,” Tuton said of Saturday’s loss. “Obviously you want to win every game. But going into the third, we were really happy to have a game like this. It really had a playoff feel to it and it brought the intensity up.

“We didn’t get the result we wanted, but I was real happy with the effort we put in in the third. We really took a shot at it.”

The team was missing several key cogs, including blue-liner Jared Tuton, sniper Kevin Petovello and playmaker Joe Densmore.

Ted Stephens scored twice in the loss, with Mike Arnold, Burt Stephens and Adam Henderson also contributing goals, but it wouldn’t be enough.

Mitch Ball scored the first two goals for the Regals, before being aided by scores from Andy Welsh, Chad Euverman, Andrew Derton and Cody Vetchum.

Three of the Regals’ first-period goals came in a span of less than two minutes.

The series was a rough one, with 23 minor penalties handed out Saturday.

On Friday, Kane Dawe scored twice to lead the Huskies to a 5-3 win.

Arnold, Rob Warner and Daniel Clethroe added singles, while Ball, Welsh and Rich Kellington replied for the Regals.

“In this hockey, it’s really the fittest team usually wins, even if the talent isn’t quite there,” said Powell River coach Tod English. “That’s the secret come February, when you’re playing off, to be fit.

“We’re happy with getting a win. ... But the fact is, when you get into tournament play, it’s really just about being the best team on that day.”

With the win, Powell River improved their season record to 6-2, English added.

Both games saw 700-plus fans file into Takhini Arena, including Rogers Hometown Hockey host Ron MacLean, who visited both team’s dressing rooms prior to Saturday night’s contest.

Friday night’s game began with a banner ceremony honouring members of the Allan Cup-winning Huskies from 1993, the Whitehorse Bantam Mustangs team that won the Tier 3 B.C. championship last season, and members of the 1999 women’s team that won Western Canadians.

Hometown Hockey co-host Tara Slone dropped the puck at a ceremonial faceoff.

The Huskies did not name a top dog – the team’s version of a first star selection – after Saturday’s loss.

Despite the season-ending defeat, Dawe said it may have been a blessing in disguise.

“That was definitely what we needed there at the end,” the 25-year-old said. “We needed to get more competition, because Fort St. John is going to be better than that, I believe.”

Added Arnold, 20: “We put up a good fight. ... But we need to show up prepared. It just goes to show you can’t play 20 minutes in these types of games. We have to play a full 60, and that’s all about coming prepared and getting our mindset focused, not leaving it until the third period to battle back. That’s the key, I think, for us.

“Fort St. John’s going to be a huge test for us. They got us last year, so that’s on our mind – revenge.”

Also of note, three fans took a shot at winning a side-by-side ATV from Yukon Yamaha, Saturday, but failed.

Huskies await Coy Cup playoff opponent

While a home playoff series versus the Fort St. John Flyers was announced at Saturday night’s game, Huskies general manager Matt King says plans are still up in the air.

The announcement said the Huskies would host the Flyers Feb. 6 and 7 at Takhini Arena.

However, King said that series is yet-to-be determined as the Flyers would need to wrap up first place in the North Peace league in order to earn a bye into their league playoffs.

However, if the Flyers do not finish atop the league, they would lose their bye and would be unable to commit a weekend to a Coy Cup playoff series versus the Huskies, leaving the Yukon club in a sticky situation.

If the Flyers do not finish first, the expectation is BC Hockey would grant them a bye into the Coy Cup, and the Huskies would be forced to play off with the Regals and North Island Capitals for one playoff spot at a date, location and format yet-to-be determined.

The North Peace league, which includes teams from northern Alberta and northeastern B.C., concludes its regular season on Saturday.

“Nothing is certain at this point, but we are prepared to host on Feb. 6 and 7,” King said in an email to the Star.

“Unfortunately, we have to be flexible this time of year, as there are many dominoes and scenarios.”