The Whitehorse Huskies are getting ready to start the season.

Coach Michael Tuton said the team’s Tuesday practice went well and was full – only missing those players still out of town.

“I think the guys are ready to get started,” said Tuton.

Saturday’s 8:00 p.m. start at Takhini Arena marks the first game of a two-game series against Alberta’s Bonnyville Pontiacs.

This will be the first meeting of the two teams.

“I don’t imagine they’re going to be coming here looking to get beat,” said Tuton. “We’re going to have to be ready.”

Starting so far for the Huskies on Saturday will be Jon Olthuis in net; Andrew Pettit, Tyrell Hope and Charles Dagostin.

Many of the players from the Huskies’ 2015-16 season are returning and will be joined by Olthuis, Pettit, Reid Campbell, Dagostin, Matthew Dickson and Hope.

Olthuis was a NCAA skater, playing four seasons with University of Alaska Anchorage. Andrew Pettit was also a NCAA skater at the same university.

Reid Campbell played four seasons with the Powell River Kings before playing in the U.S.

Tyrell Hope has played as a member of Team North.

Last season, the Bonnyville Pontiacs were at the top of their North Central Alberta division with a regular season record of 15-1. They made it to their division championships, ultimately losing to the Daysland Northstars in Game 4 of the best-of-five series.

The Pontiacs are 2-1 heading into this weekend’s exhibition game.

Game 2 will take place Sunday at 5 p.m.

Hockey fans will rejoice this weekend, as the U16 midget Yukon Mustangs talent is also on display in three games.

They take on the Yellowknife Wolf-Pack in the first game of the weekend, Friday at the Takhini Arena at 6:15 p.m. They will also play the Wolf-Pack Saturday at 2:30 p.m. and Sunday at 8:30 a.m.

Also in town are the Cariboo Cougars, who take on the Vancouver Chiefs Saturday at 4:45 p.m. and Sunday at 10:45 a.m.

“We look forward to bringing the BCMML (B.C. Major Midget League) to the northern territory for a two game set, and thank Hockey Yukon for hosting us,” the Cariboo Cougars said in a press release this week.

All games will be held at the Takhini Arena and Tuton said it will be a good chance to get some fans in the building.

“(It’s a) good chance to have a look at the up and coming talent we have in Whitehorse,” he said. “Expect some good pace and some big hitting.”

The Huskies announced last week that they will host B.C. senior men’s double A’s provincial championship, the Coy Cup, in March 2017.

This weekend marks their first two games of a required six exhibition games. The Huskies are guaranteed a place in theCoy Cup as they are hosting the tournament.

They have previously said they will be chasing the Coy Cup with a vengeance this season, wanting to hoist it on home ice.