With the help of some Yukon hockey talent, Team North took some key strides at the 2015 National Aboriginal Hockey Championships (NAHC) in Halifax.

While Saskatchewan won double-gold on Saturday for the second straight year, the hockey program that includes players from the Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut was celebrating some success of its own.

Team North finished pool play with a 1-2 record. After dropping their first playoff game to Saskatchewan 7-4, the group lost an overtime heartbreaker 4-3 to Ontario in relegation to finish sixth out of eight teams.

Kole Comin led the Yukon group with five goals and one assist in five games, while Dylan McCuaig also played a scoring role with three goals and three assists in the tournament, while Jonas Leas chipped in a goal and two assists.

Goalie Josh Tetlichi recorded the only shutout of the men’s tournament in a 4-0 win over Team Atlantic last week.

Other male Yukoners participating in the U-18 midget-level tournament were Kaine Comin, Bohdi Elias and Dustyn Phelps-VanBibber.

Wade Comin served behind the bench as an assistant coach.

“The standings show the Team North program is improving,” said team manager Derek Squirrel. “We’re growing, getting stronger and were one or two goals away from being in the medal rounds.

“Eventually we’re going to be in the running,” Squirrel added. “This is our third year as Team North.

“We used to be fighting for seventh, eighth place all the time, but now that we’re Team North and have a bigger variety of players, it makes the program stronger.”

Following the tournament, Yukon players weighed in on their experience via Twitter.

“Pretty cool to attend two national championships in one year,” tweeted Kaine Comin, a member of Team Yukon at the Canada Winter Games.

“Huge thank you to (Aboriginal Sport Circle N.W.T.) and everyone else who helped make the past 10 days in Halifax such a success with Team North,” added Leas.

Meanwhile, the female Team North squad finished seventh overall thanks to a final 6-2 win over Team Atlantic in a relegation game.

The girls finished pool play 0-2-1, with their best showing being a 4-4 tie with Team Alberta.

They went on to lose their quarter-final game 6-1 against eventual tournament runner-up Team Ontario, before downing Team Atlantic to finish seventh.

Sierra Oakley finished with two goals – including the lone game-winner – and two assists, while Adrianne Dewhurst also turned in a fine performance with two goals and an assist.

Davina McLeod, who was representing Aklavik, N.W.T., for the tournament, chipped in three goals and an assist while goalie Maya Oakley was peppered with shots all tournament long, picking up player of the game honours vs. Team Alberta.

Monica Johnson added an assist over five games while Mikaila Blanchard was held pointless.

“They did awesome,” said assistant coach Candice MacEachen. “Taking seventh spot puts us in a better position for next year.”

With many of the Yukon girls accustomed to high competition, they “settled in pretty well,” MacEachen added.

Next year’s tournament will take place in Mississauga, Ont.