MELFORT DOUBLES UP LA RONGE TO WIN THEIR SECOND STRAIGHT
Remembrance Day saw the Melfort Mustangs hosting the La Ronge Ice Wolves at the Northern Lights Palace, and what a day it was. The game opened with a mini service dedicated to all the service men and women who have selflessly served in Canada’s military. High school teacher Adrian Bourgeois was in attendance to play Oh, Canada and The Last Post, while the Air Cadets of Melfort stood at attention with the provincial and national colours. The acoustics of the 24 year old barn suited the ceremony very well, it was quite a sight to behold. The Mustangs would like to thank Adrian and the members of the 171 Melfort Phoenix Royal Canadian Air Cadets for providing their time to honour our veterans.
After the ceremony, the game began, and La Ronge flew out of the gate all fired up. The team has ben struggling through the first half of their season, but that didn’t stop them from putting up three goals in 16 shot in the first period against Derrick Hucul. The Ice Wolves had come to play, and they were quick to make sure Melfort knew that with a 3-0 lead going into the second period.
A change in goalie and a change in attitude followed the home team out for the second period, and the game started to change. Melfort opened their scoring with a goal from Kalem Zary (assisted by Tanner Zentner and Miles Warkentine) at the 3 minute mark of the second period. Dakota Boutin found the back of the net on a power play from Zary and goaltender Evan Plotnik and Warkentine added another power play goal with help from Zary to tie the game up. The Mustang defense allowed only 9 shots in the period, and Plotnik turned them all away. The game was tied at 3 going into the third.
Three and a half minutes into the third frame, Boutin tallied another goal with an assist from Carson Albrecht to put the Mustangs ahead by one, their first lead of the game. Not content to just leave it at that, Boutin finished off the hat trick on another power play goal with help from Zentner and Warkentine. With two minutes left in the game, Wyatt Hinson added the final nail with assists from Jaxon Joseph and Matt Hermary. The Melfort Mustangs finished strong with a 6-3 final after giving up three unanswered in the first.
Nine days will pass before the Mustangs are back at home, when they play the Yorkton Terriers on Sunday, November 20th, but will have some away games to pass the time. They travel to Melville on the 15th, and Battlefords on the 18th to hopefully keep the momentum and get some more wins under their belt.
