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Canada's first gold-medal win at the Paralympics was won with the help of a hard-working Yukon skier.

Brian McKeever cracked Canada's golden goose egg in the medal count at the Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia today 鈥� and he did it with a unique twist.

One of the most accomplished athletes in the history of Paralympic sport, the 34-year-old McKeever utilized both of his training partners and guides, Erik Carleton and Whitehorse native Graham Nishikawa, in the 20-kilometre classic-ski race to slog through the summer-like warm and slow snow conditions and put one in the win column for Canada.

The Canadian trio teamed up to clock a winning time of 52 minutes, 37.1 seconds.

"Today was a huge team effort having two guides out there sharing the work,鈥� said McKeever. "It was definitely needed because I couldn't have done that on my own. They set the perfect pace with the snow being what it was. It is much faster skiing from behind in conditions like this, and unfortunately for the guides, they are forced to work pretty damn hard. It was all them today.鈥�

Watching many of the world's best Nordic nations struggle with the difficult warm weather and snow conditions at the Olympics in Sochi, the decision to leverage both of the guides that McKeever brought to these Paralympics 鈥� the first time he has done so in his legendary career 鈥� was made last night during a team meeting.

"It was a convoluted plan and a risky plan that was needed to be done only because of the strength of the athlete,鈥� said Robin McKeever, head coach of Canada's Para-Nordic Team. "Guiding in these conditions is brutal, and when you are leading a world-class athlete like Brian it is very difficult to keep the pace he needs.

"Brian controls the throttle. The risk bringing an athlete in mid-race is he can potentially go out to hard and blow himself up, or he goes to hard and wrecks Brian. Communication is absolutely critical all day between each of the athletes and coaches.鈥�

The strategy paid off. With the original race plan to switch guides at the 12-km mark, the Canadians were dropping further back into second place at the midway point as the 36-year-old Carleton was running out of gas.

Childhood buddies, Carleton and McKeever teamed up following the 2010 Paralympics when Brian's brother Robin packed in his racing career to focus on coaching Canada's Para-Nordic squad.

Recognizing the advantage of having additional arsenal in the wax room, the two Canmore, Alta. natives invited Nishikawa, a national ski team member, into their training group this fall.

While Nishikawa continued to race able-bodied domestically in Canada and on the World Cup circuit this year, he remained committed to McKeever at the Paralympics.

"This is not only my first Paralympics, but my first time guiding Brian today so it is a whole new world for me,鈥� said Nishikawa, who raced the World Cup in Lahti, Finland last week. "I'm very excited to be here for Brian. It is a tough job to lead him out there. He is a world-class athlete, and we have to set a very fast pace to be out in front of him to deliver the performance.鈥�

Similar to a relief pitcher getting the call from the bullpen, Nishikawa was given the nod to charge to the stadium at the midway point of the race and power Canada to gold.

"It really allowed me to keep the strength in the second half when the track started breaking down, getting wetter and slower,鈥� said McKeever. "It allowed me to keep a good tempo. Like I said, this win is all on the guides today.鈥�

Two medals 鈥� three athletes 鈥� begs the question of which guide gets the hardware. It was Carleton's name on the start list so he and McKeever will receive Canada's first gold medals at a ceremony on Tuesday evening.

"Having a medal doesn't matter at all to me,鈥� said Nishikawa. "I was just here for Brian and I'm so happy we got the job done. Nothing can beat that. It is all I could ask for.鈥�

The victory brings McKeever's medal haul to 11 at the Paralympics, including eight gold. If he can chalk up two more victories in his other races this week, McKeever will become the first Canadian Winter Paralympian with at least 10 gold medals.

"This one might be one of the most special,鈥� he said. "Just having both of these guys who have been very good friends of mine for a long time, sharing the work, it is pretty special.鈥�