Mustangs make mark on December SJHL Players of the Month
Credit: Broad Leaf Media
The Melfort Mustangs month of December was nothing short of spectacular. While the Mustangs fell in their first two games of the month, the blue and green would rattle off eight straight wins after that, helping the team jump into third place in the SJHL.
As a result of their success in December, a total of six Mustangs have been recognized for their efforts in the SJHL’s Players of the Month.
Defenceman of the Month: #5 Hayden Tuba (9gp, 2-7-9)
Only one other defenceman in the SJHL scored as many points as Hayden Tuba did in the month of December, and it was his teammate. Tuba scored twice and added seven assists in nine games over the month and played heavy minutes for Head Coach Trevor Blevins as the Mustangs tore through the league. Tuba is this month’s Mayfair Diagnostics Defenceman of the Month.
Season Total: 33gp, 3G, 14A, 17Pts
Rookie of the Month: #39 Trenton Curtis: (10gp, 4-10-14)
Trenton Curtis was a force to be reckoned with in the month of December for the Mustangs. In 10 games, Curtis was held pointless just twice. He scored four goals, and added 10 assists for 14 points, third most in the SJHL over that time. The 2002-born forwards excellent stretch earns him the DirectWest Rookie of the Month honours.
Season Total: 24gp, 8G, 17A, 25Pts
Runner-Up: MVP of the Month: #47 Marco Lopez (8-5-13)
Marco Lopez scored, and scored lots in the month of December. He scored eight times and added five assists for 13 points. Lopez’s eight goals were tied for the second-most in the SJHL during that stretch. Six of those goals came as Lopez notched two hat-tricks in three games on Dec. 11 and Dec. 17. Lopez’s efforts make him the Runner-Up for the SGEU MVP of the Month.
Season Total: 33gp, 17G, 14A, 31Pts
Runner-Up: RBC Forward of the Month: #9 Ben Tkachuk (4-8-12)
The 2002-born forward, and Mustang Captain continues to lead the Mustangs on and off the scoresheet. Tkachuk turned things up a notch in December as he scored four goals and added eight assists, only being held pointless twice all month. He ended the month on a hot note, scoring twice on New Years Eve against the Nipawin Hawks. Tkachuk also played in his 100th Career SJHL game on Dec. 17 against the Nipawin Hawks. Tkachuk is December’s Runner-Up for RBC Forward of the Month.
Season Total: 36gp, 13G 22A 35Pts
Runner-Up: Defenceman of the Month: #25 Alex Moar (6gp, 0-9-9)
Alex Moar was one generous defenceman in the month of December. In just six games, the 2001-born defenceman tallied nine assists, including three multi-assist games. Moar also played some key minutes through the month of December. Moar’s efforts earn him the Runner-Up for the Mayfair Diagnostics Defenceman of the Month.
Season Total: 18gp, 2G, 15A, 17Pts
Runner-Up: Rookie of the Month: #31 James Venne (10gp, 7-2-0, 2.96, .883, 1so)
No goaltender in the SJHL won more games in the month of December than James Venne. The 2004-born netminder started all 10 games for the Mustangs in the month and went 7-2-0 in those games. He tallied a 2.96 Goals-Against-Average, and a .883 save-percentage. Venne also earned his second shutout of the season on Dec. 18 against the Nipawin Hawks, stopping 21 shots in a 3-0 win. Venne is this month’s Runner-Up for DirectWest Rookie of the Month..
Season Total: (19gp, 11-2-0-3, 2.27 GAA, .907 sv%, 2so)
The Mustangs are scheduled to be back in game action on Tuesday, Jan. 11 when they take on La Ronge at the Northern Lights Palace.
