Huskies announce second set of games for early January

Just in time for Christmas, the Whitehorse Huskies have announced they will play another set of games at home, on Jan. 8th and 9th.

Just in time for Christmas, the Whitehorse Huskies have announced they will play another set of games at home, on Jan. 8th and 9th.

The Huskies will face off against the Paradise Hill Hawks, of Northern Saskatchewan for a two game series.

The Hawks are one of two teams vying to represent Saskatchewan at the Allan Cup this year, so Huskies general manager Jim King says they will be bringing a tough game with them.

Coach Randy Merkel said this game will be another exciting matchup between the two teams vying for the Allan Cup.

“I would think this would be another AAA calibre hockey game,” said Merkel.

Merkel is confident in goalie Corey MacEachern, who stopped 25 shots in the Nov. 20 game against the Powell River Regals, and 55 on the Nov. 21 game. He surrendered 11 goals over that weekend.

MacEachern is a former member of the Lloydminster Border Kings, a AAA team, who won the Allan Cup in 2007, Merkel said. MacEachern was named tournament MVP.

The upcoming game may feature players from Outside, Merkel said. The team has been speaking with some AAA players in an effort to round out the roster to ensure the Huskies have a solid chance of making a run for the Allan Cup.

“There’ll probably be a few players come in to play for us,” Merkel said. “We need a little bit of help.”

The picture of what help the Huskies needed became clearer after the November games. Since then Merkel said the team has been working hard to get their game up.

“It’s been very busy for most of the team since the last set,” Merkel said.

Many of the players participate in the Whitehorse Recreational Hockey League, but the players meet for Huskies practices often.

“The turnout sometimes hasn’t been as strong as we’d like,” Merkel said, but the coach acknowledges the players are coming out when they can.

One of the key areas the Huskies have been focusing on is getting prepared to take – and throw back – hits, something the rec league players don’t see.

“We proved at our last set against Powell River we weren’t in good enough shape,” Merkel said.

In an effort to step up their physical game, many of the Huskies have been meeting with Olympian Jeanne Lassen for dryland training, organized by team captain Clayton Thomas.

“Several players have been taking advantage of that,” Merkel said. “I think that’s going to help.”

Merkel said Lassen has an Olympic-style training regimen that is helping the players.

“We’re lucky to have her,” Merkel said. “The guys who have attended said she’s been very good.”

King said there will be tickets available in advance for this series, which was an issue at the Nov. 20 and 21st games against the Powell River Regals.

Hockey fans had to wait in line in the cold to get into Takhini Arena. This time around the problem has been fixed, and tickets will be available at the Midnight Sun Coffee Roasters and Sports North for $12.

The puck will drop for the Friday night game at 8:30 p.m. on Jan. 8 and 6:15 p.m. on Jan. 9.

Also coming up for Merkel and his minor hockey team the Wolverines, is the broadcast of their Hockey Night in Canada introduction that was filmed a few weeks ago.

The team will be treated to a pizza party from Scotiabank by branch manager Doug Jensen.

“He’s throwing a pizza party for the kids,” Merkel said.

The team will meet at Boston Pizza on Boxing Day to see their introduction to two Canadian games being played during Hockey Night in Canada.

“They were pretty excited at the time,” Merkel said. “Once they see this they’re going to be really pumped up on themselves and their moment of fame.”

The introduction will air at 3:30 p.m. sharp on CBC, Merkel said.