The first match of the 2012 Arctic Winter Games took place on the ice on Sunday morning with Team Yukon squaring off against Team Northwest Territories (NWT) at the Takihni Arena.

It was a game of fast paced and physical hockey as the two teams battled to find their footing and purge the early nerves from their systems.

It was a hard fought game for both teams with NWT emerging the victors, 7-4.

With a large crowd on hand, the hometown team were the first to get into the scoring column when Levi Johnson snuck one past NWT netminder Austin Stapleton.

Jamie Carins, who shares the Yukon coaching duties with Barry Bilsner, said the early goal spiked the team's energy.

"You get an early goal like that and emotions go through the roof,” he said.

Team Yukon didn't have much time to celebrate however as NWT answered back less than 15 seconds later when Bryden Patenaude beat Yukon goalie Josh Tetlichi.

The goal inspired a flurry of offensive attacks for NWT as they were able to reel off another four straight goals before the end of the first period.

The physicality of the game led to an increase in the whistles as both teams were called for a total of 25 penalties.

Carins said the Yukon team needed time to adjust to the physical play.

"The team plays in the recreational league where there is no contact and we only get out to a few tournaments a year,” he said.

"Sometimes as a player it is hard to flip that switch and play a highly competitive full contact hockey game.”

Carrins also said nerves played a factor with the young squad.

"They've never played in front of that many people before and they've never played at home in front of a packed house. There was no doubt they were nervous.”

In the second period the pace of the game slowed and team Yukon was able to calm their nerves and play with better communication.

Dylan McQuaig, captain of team Yukon was the lone goal scorer in the period.

He said the team was prepared for the skill of NWT but had trouble at times knocking them off the puck and communicating on the ice.

"We need to work on our passing and focus,” he said. "We just need to get out there and play and see what happens.”

Carins was impressed with the resilience and dedication of the team.

"We won that second period,” he said.

"They could have easily rolled over and called it a day but they didn't and we're very proud of them. I'm very happy with the team, they played hard.”

Both teams would add two more goals in the final period.

Tetlichi was named game MVP for Yukon while NWT center Curtis German took home the honours of the opposition.

"He played great, Carins said of Tetlichi.

"NWT was able to get some power play goals and there were a lot of deflections in front of the net and you can't do anything about that.

"He made a lot of big saves.”

Yukon will continue their play today with match-ups against Alaska and Nunavut.