Seven Yukon hockey players are plying their trade in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL) this season.

The 20-team Junior B league, based out of southern British Columbia and Washington, features local talent including Josh Tetlichi, Alex Hanson, Kole Comin and Graeme Close.

Other Yukoners include the Summerland Steam’s “Yukon Connection” line of Wyatt Gale, Jarrett Malchow and Riley Pettitt.

Tetlichi (Kelowna Chiefs), Hanson (100 Mile House Wranglers) and Comin (Kamloops Storm) are all newcomers to the league, while Close is a veteran defenceman with the Grand Forks Border Bruins.

Tetlichi, 16, is splitting crease time with Brady Lenardon in Kelowna. Lenardon is two years his senior.

A late cut by the Jr. A Merritt Centennials, Tetlichi was quickly snapped up by the Chiefs.

“The coaches know I can play and they try to split us as much as they can,” Tetlichi said yesterday.

The Chiefs have struggled slightly out of the gate, but Tetlichi said the two games he’s played have been close.

Kelowna is currently last in the Okanagan Division.

“I felt comfortable,” he said. “It’s definitely a different atmosphere than Whitehorse because there’s always 300 or 400 fans watching.”

Last year, Tetlichi played rec league hockey in Whitehorse.

“It’s my first year playing out of town,” the six-foot-one, 165-pound netminder told the Star. “The toughest thing is being away from family.”

Meanwhile, Hanson, 17, has two assists in three games for the Wranglers (2-0-0-1).

“We’re doing real well,” the five-foot-10, 185-pound left-winger said yesterday. “We beat the defending champs (Kimberley Dynamiters) 2-0 last Friday night.

“I haven’t found it too big of a jump. I’m feeling pretty comfortable.”

In Kamloops, Comin has made a solid contribution to the Storm, whose early 3-1 record leads the Doug Birks Division.

The hulking forward has a goal and three assists in four games – tied for fourth in team scoring.

Close has a goal and assist in five games for Grand Forks (1-3-0-1), and is the team’s top-scoring blue-liner thus far.

Close and Tetlichi will meet for the first time this season on Saturday.

“It’s kind of a rivalry, playing your friends,” said an excited Tetlichi.

“It’s definitely good to see them during the year. It’s definitely going to be one of the funner games this season.”

Returning to Summerland this season is the high-scoring Yukon forward trio of Gale, Malchow and Pettitt.

After the first four games, Gale and Pettitt each have five points – good for third in Steam scoring.

Malchow has also contributed three assists in three games.

The Steam are 3-1 to start the season and are tied for top spot in the Okanagan Division.