The Melfort Mustangs are excited to announce the four men who will be wearing letters for the club during the 2022/2023 SJHL season.
2002-born forward Ben Tkachuk returns for his second season as Mustangs Captain, while 2002-born forwards Dawson Leroux, and Clarke Huxley join Tkachuk as Assistants. Rounding out the quartet is 2003-born defenceman Leith Olafson.
“I am proud, and honoured to be back leading this team this season,” said Tkachuk. “We have a lot of great leaders in our room, and I’m excited to work with Dawson, Clarke, and Leith.”
#9 – Ben Tkachuk: Tkachuk is currently in his fourth season with the Mustangs and has played in 128 regular season and playoff games for the club entering this season and has totalled 33 goals and 51 assists in that time. The Gronlid, Sask. product has also added two assists in two games to start this season.
#23 – Dawson Leroux: Since joining the Mustangs prior to the 2021/2022 season, Leroux has been an integral part of the club. The Lethbridge, Alta. product was the only Mustang to play in all 58 games a season ago and also played in all seven playoff games. He scored 17 goals and notched 26 assists for 43 regular season points last year. Leroux would go on to add four assists in the playoffs as well. Prior to his time in Melfort, Leroux played a total of 73 games in the AJHL with the Olds Grizzlys.
#24 – Clarke Huxley: A trade deadline acquisition in 2022, Clarke Huxley has only played in a 27 total SJHL contests heading into this season with the Mustangs, but his presence has been felt greatly by the club. The Calgary, Alta. product totalled eight points in 20 regular season games with the Mustangs, but would turn it up a notch in last year’s playoffs, scoring three times and adding six assists for 9 points in seven games. Huxley also has 47 games of experience in the AJHL with the Fort McMurray Oil Barons.
#43 – Leith Olafson: The youngest of the four captains with the Mustangs this season, Leith Olafson enters his second season with the Mustangs as a key cog on the blue line. The Wasa, B.C. product played in 46 games last season and scored 15 points from the backend. He was named last seasons “Most Improved Player” by the club.
