A group of Yukon hockey players will join the Fort Nelson Yeti next week to take a run at the Coy Cup.

Cory McEachran, Clayton Thomas, Kane Dawe and Evan Campbell will join the Yeti for the tournament in Williams Lake, B.C.

The Coy Cup is awarded to the senior AA ice hockey champions of British Columbia.

The 2014 tournament runs March 11 to 15.

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

The four-team tournament involves teams from the Central Interior Hockey League (CIHL). This year, the Yeti will face the Terrace River Kings, Smithers Steelheads and host Williams Lake Stampeders for the trophy.

The Stampeders won last year's championship by defeating the host Kitimat Ice Demons 5-1 in the final.

McEachran, a 35-year-old goaltender with three Allan Cup titles to his name, is the Yukon connection to the Yeti, as he is friends with team president and captain, Ryan Carter.

The Fort Nelson squad is not currently affiliated with a league, but is hoping to become a future member of the North Peace Hockey League. The team won its jurisdiction by default.

Carter said the Yukoners caught his eye when they won a tournament in Fort Nelson last season.

"They're going to really add depth to our team for this tournament,” Carter told the Star today. "It could potentially be five games in five nights, and it is senior hockey, so no one is in professional shape by any means. Having a couple more good players helps take the burden off a few guys. Those guys should really help our scoring.”