The Melfort Mustangs will put their 6 game win streak on the line tonight when they visit the Melville Millionaires. Game time is 7:30pm from Melville as the Mustangs look to keep pace in the SJHL Standings.
The SJHL Standings are as tight as they’ve ever been, currently there’s only 9 points that separate the first placed Nipawin Hawks and the 7th placed Flin Flon Bombers. With between 5 and 7 games left for most teams we likely won’t know the complete playoff picture until the final day of the regular season on March 5th. The Mustangs have first place in the Sher-Wood Division and the entire SJHL still in their sights. Sitting 6 points back of Nipawin, but with a game in hand, and a head to head home and home, before the end of the season catching the league leading Hawks is still attainable.
The Mustangs potent offence has been absolutely on fire during this win streak. Melfort has beaten La Ronge, Kindersley, Battlefords twice and Flin Flon twice. Some very high profiled teams, and outscored them 35-16 in the process. The Mustangs have been led offensively by just about everyone in February. Colin Schmidt has been on some kind of tear, he finally had his long point streak end at 12 games. He scored 13 goals and added 9 assists for 22 points during that stretch. George King has also been great. In 13 games with the Mustangs King has 8 goals and 8 assists for 16 points. Not to mention the top line in the SJHL Justin Ball, Carson Albrecht and Tanner Zentner. Justin Ball is currently on a 7 game point streak that has seen him score 6 times and add 12 assists for 19 points. Carson Albrecht, the most recent University of North Dakota commit has 4 goals and 8 assists in his last 8 games. The big guy Tanner Zentner in the middle has also chipped in. He has 3 goals and 8 assists in his last 7 games.
The Melville Millionaires come into tonight’s game in desperate need of a win in order to hold on to their survivor series spot. They currently lead the Weyburn Red Wings by two points for the 10th and final playoff spot. If the season ended today the Millionaires would travel to Flin Flon for the best of 3 survivor series against the Bombers. The Mils have been led by Luke Spadafora and Josh Borynec this season. Spadafora leads the team with 39 points and was a great pickup for the Mils from the Humboldt Broncos. Borynec sits a single point back for the team lead with 38 points. Between the pipes Colby Entz is in his third full season with the Mils and will graduate from the SJHL as a Mil. This season his numbers have dropped slightly as he sits with a .899 Save Percentage and a 3.36 GAA. He’s played 109 career games with the Mils and 3 playoff games.
Tonight’s game begins at 7:30pm, Mat Barrett will have the call on CK750. The Mustangs next game will see them travel to Humboldt on Friday, another broadcast game day on CK750.
Photo Credit: Broad Lead Media