The Whitehorse Huskies aren’t in it just for the fun of it, just to bring a couple of senior hockey games back to Takhini Arena.

Head coach Mike Tuton said the players want the Coy Cup, the senior men’s AA hockey championship for B.C.

“I think we have the team to do it,” Tuton said in an interview Tuesday as the Huskies get ready to host the Fort Nelson Yeti in a two-game home series this weekend. “I believe if we are ever to do it, now is the time.”

Tuton said they have three solid forward lines and a couple of extra bodies up front, along with a very capable defensive core.

And most of the players came up through the Whitehorse Minor Hockey League, he pointed out.

“I feel pretty good about this team, there is something about them,” he said. “I think we are onto something here.”

The revival of a local senior men’s team began last fall under a push by Clayton Thomas who’ll be wearing an ‘A’ on his jersey when the Huskies and Yeti hit the ice Friday at 7:45 p.m.

The clubs will face off again Saturday evening at 7:15.

The Huskies won the two games in Fort Nelson last month, one in overtime, the other in a shootout.

Tuton said they’ll have more depth this series, as a handful of forwards who didn’t make the Fort Nelson trip will be suited up this weekend.

The tempo of the practices lately has impressed the coach.

“I think they want to go for it,” he said. “We are not just looking to compete.

“With these guys it would be a waste of time to get a couple of home series and go down there just to compete. Our goal is to go all the way.”

In order to qualify to challenge for the Coy Cup, the Huskies need to play at least six games sanctioned by BC Hockey.

Following this weekend, the Huskies will host a two-game series with the Powell River Regals on Jan. 30-31.

Tuton said they’re also looking to organize a visit from a Yellowknife team, as well as play another series against Fort Nelson after this one.

The club will travel to Fort Nelson at the end of February to begin the playoff run, which ends with the Coy Cup championship taking place in Fort Nelson from March 24 to 28.

Tuton said he doesn’t think this whole effort to revive senior hockey here is a flash in the pan, and he expects the Huskies will go again next season.

From an organizational point of view, it’s been a challenge but everything seems to be coming together, and individuals are stepping forward to help out, he said.

Tuton said it’s time to look at forming a board of directors and finding a president to oversee the organization and what amounts to a costly endeavour.

Air North is on board as a sponsor to help bring Powell River to town, and the Casa Loma Motel is helping with accommodations, he said.

Tuton said the Huskies want to work closely with Whitehorse Minor Hockey, particularly since most of the players came up through its ranks.

This weekend, for instance, the Mustangs Pee Wee rep team will be handling the 50-50 draw, and minor hockey players wearing their jerseys will be admitted free – a maximum of two players for every adult.

And the novice Huskies club will be handling the beer garden to help with a trip to B.C. at the end of the month.

The head coach said a lot of volunteer hours have gone into hosting this weekend’s series, the first senior men’s hockey for Whitehorse in five years.

“If we had 500 a night I would be a pretty happy guy,” Tuton said of the fan support he hopes to see on the weekend. “I think financially, if we had 500 a night, we would be looking good for the next series.”

Tuton’s brother Jared is the team captain, and the other two As will be worn by Derek Klassen and Evan Campbell.

Rob Young, Brian Power and J.J. Gainsforth will be sharing goaltending duties over the weekend.

The Huskies roster is as follows:

Forwards: Derek Klassen ‘A’, Robby Warner, Rob Wells, Rob Stuckey, Kane Dawe, Evan Campbell ‘A’, Adam Henderson, Clayton Thomas ‘A’, Ryan Gleason, Mike Arnold and Gibson Pearson.

Defence: Jared Tuton ‘C’, Simon Nugent, Chuck Hombert, Tim Macintosh, Drew Pettite, Burton Stephens, Jon Rudolph and Kirk Gale.

Goalies: Brian Power, Rob Young and J.J. Gainsforth.

Coaches: Mike Tuton and Clint Teichroeb.

Admission is $10.