Playoff Game Day! Mustangs open series with Bruins!
The Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League opens all four Quarter-Final Series tonight! In Melfort the Mustangs host the Estevan Bruins to open their best of 7 series. The other 6 teams get underway as well as the La Ronge Ice Wolves are in Yorkton. The Nipawin Hawks are in Battleford and Humboldt heads to Flin Flon.
The Mustangs open the playoffs riding the back of goaltender Shawn Parkinson. In case you’re living under a rock, Parkinson has a current 3 game shutout streak and shutouts in 4 of his last 5 games. The Mustangs have locked it down defensively and open the playoffs 8-1-1 in their last ten games. Kenzie Arnold led the Mustangs in scoring this season with 22 goals and 52 points. With additions this season of Tian Rask, Kyle Bosch and Austin Nault the Mustangs have bolstered their depth and have had scoring by committee all season. As previously mentioned, Shawn Parkinson has been great this season. He ends the year with a 25-12-5-1 record with a 2.36 Goals Against Average and a .919 Save Percentage. Parkinson led all SJHL goaltenders in wins, GAA and Shutouts.
The Estevan Bruins enter the playoffs equally as hot as the Melfort Mustangs. They went 8-2 in their final 10 games of the season. However, one of only two Bruin losses in the final few weeks came in Melfort to the Mustangs. They opened a 4 game northern road trip with a 9-2 defeat to these Mustangs. Since that the Bruins started to roll and moved up significantly in the playoff picture and into the 6th seed. Keenan Rancier has been the Bruins number 1 goalie this year appearing in 48 of 58 Bruin games. He ended the year with 25 wins, a 2.91 GAA and a .912 Save Percentage. Jayden Davis led the Bruins in scoring this year finishing with 21 goals and 58 points. Eddie Gallagher(50 points) and Isaiah Thomas(48 points) round out the top 3 scorers for the Bruins.
SJHL Playoff Matchups!
Melfort – Estevan Series Dates
Fri Mar 6 2020 Estevan @ Melfort
Sat Mar 7 2020 Estevan @ Melfort
Tues Mar 10 2020 Melfort @ Estevan
Wed Mar 11 2020 Melfort @ Estevan
*Fri Mar 13 2020 Estevan @ Melfort*
*Sun Mar 15 2020 Melfort @ Estevan*
*Tues Mar 17 2020 Estevan @ Melfort*
**Games 5, 6 and 7 are if necessary**
Easiest way to get playoff tickets is online at tickets.melfortmustangs.com. It’s the only way to use the interactive map and select each of the seats YOU WANT.
All Playoff games can be heard on 750 Beach Radio with Mat Barrett. If you can’t make it to the rink playoff games will also be broadcast on Hockey TV.
All Photo Credit: Broad Leaf Media
