The Whitehorse Huskies kicked off their season in style over the weekend, winning two straight games over the Fort Nelson Yeti in thrilling fashion.

The Huskies beat the Yeti 7-6 in overtime Friday, then edged the hosts 3-2 in a shootout Saturday afternoon.

“I was really happy with our effort,” team organizer Clayton Thomas told the Star today. “It was a good team-building exercise. We have a ways to go, but now at least we know what we’re up against.”

Evan Campbell and Kane Dawe logged stellar performances for the Huskies, with both wingers recording hat tricks in Friday night’s 7-6 win. Daniel Clethro added a single in the victory.

“I was very happy with the effort everybody put in,” said Thomas, 33. “Evan and Kane showed a lot of leadership and that was great to see.”

The Huskies stormed out to a 4-1 lead in Friday’s contest, before the Yeti hit the comeback trail.

The Yeti knotted things up with less than three seconds to go, squeaking the tying goal past Huskies goalie Brian Power after winning an offensive zone faceoff.

“I was scared the fans were going to come over the boards, that’s how crazy the rink was going after that goal,” said Thomas, who was on the ice to take the critical faceoff.

“We’re looking forward to seeing that same enthusiasm from our fans here in January.”

Dawe led the way once again Saturday, scoring once in regulation before sniping the deciding goal in the shootout.

Tyrell Hope added a regulation goal in Saturday’s contest, while Thomas had the Huskies’ first shootout goal.

Meanwhile, Whitehorse goalie JJ Gainsforth stopped both Yeti shooters he faced.

Huskies players made the 13-hour drive to Fort Nelson in a convoy of vehicles.

The club hit the ice with 11 forwards and five defenceman, said Thomas.

The two games were the first of six sanctioned games the Huskies need to play in order to be recognized by B.C. Hockey. The team will host a pair of two-game series at Takhini Arena next month.

The Huskies’ senior hockey program was revived this year to take a run at the Coy Cup, a trophy awarded annually to British Columbia’s senior AA champions.

The trophy was originally donated to B.C.’s amateur hockey association by Colonel Coy of the 50th Gordon Highlanders. Teams began battling for the Coy Cup in 1923.

The Huskies previously won the Allan Cup in 1993 after winning the national AAA men’s circuit.