By Mat Barrett

Melfort Mustangs

King, Giesbrecht lead Mustangs over Bombers

Feb 3, 2019 | 12:15 PM

It was a very successful weekend for the Melfort Mustangs in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) as they went 2-0 in their two games.

On Friday, Feb. 1, the Mustangs had the La Ronge Ice Wolves as an opponent at the Northern Lights Palace, which ended in a 6-3 win for Melfort. Justin Ball had a goal and two assists to lead the way offensively. The game also saw Tisdale Trojan goalie Tanner Martin get the call in net and get his first win in a Mustangs jersey.

Friday night’s game was followed by the Flin Flon Bombers coming to town for another Sherwood Division matchup. That one went the Mustangs’ way as well with a convincing 6-0 scoreline. The back-to-back wins ended a four game losing skid for the Mustangs. Forward George King said it felt like the hockey gods were back on their side.

“I think it sometimes feels like the bounces just aren’t quite going your way.” King told northeastNOW. “Like, you’re getting to the right areas, and I think the important thing to do is just stick with what you know works. Don’t change stuff because you have a rough game or two, and it’ll come out eventually.”

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From basically puck drop of the hockey game, the Mustangs seemed like the better team. King got things going offensively for Melfort, just three minutes in as he took the puck behind the net and threw it in front, hitting a skate and getting by goaltender Gabriel Waked of the Bombers. That was followed about 13 minutes later by Parker Fofonoff who notched his seventh goal of the season to make it 2-0 after one period.

King got on the scoresheet again in the second period, just under four minutes into the game. Line mates Kenzie Arnold and Colin Schmidt got assists on the goal, giving the line five points in the game (Arnold assisted on the game’s first goal). King said he and his whole line was rolling in the game.

“I think my whole line was going.” King said. “Me, [Arnold], and [Schmidt] there. I think we were all moving the puck really well together, we were all finding each other and that just made a big difference overall.”

Zack Smith made it 4-0 for the Mustangs at the 5:16 mark of the second period. Things stayed that way heading into the third. That goal chased Gabriel Waked who allowed four goals on 14 shots. He was replaced by Jacob Delorme.

In the third period, the Mustangs continued the momentum, lead by Tanner Zentner who scored just 1:43 in, as he cut to the net and tucked it by Delorme to make it 5-0 Mustangs. Justin Ball decided to put one more knife in the wound as he tallied his 46^th goal of the season, leaving things at 6-0, which would be the final.

Noah Giesbrecht got his first shutout as a Mustang, stopping all 32 shots that came his way. King said he was impressed with his netminder’s play.

“He was on fire.” King said. “He stopped a couple I don’t think many goalies can.”

The win moves the Mustangs to 28-15-4-0 on the SJHL season, and sixth place when it comes to playoff positioning. Next game action for the Mustangs will be Wednesday, Feb. 6 as they host the Battlefords North Stars.

mat.barrett@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @matbarrett6