(Mat Barrett/northeastNOW Staff)

By Mat Barrett

Mustangs v Hawks

Mustangs can’t tickle twine, fall to 0-2

Sep 15, 2019 | 12:08 PM

Different venue, same result between the Melfort Mustangs and Nipawin Hawks.

After a 3-0 decision in favour of the Hawks on Friday, Sept. 13, the same score was on the board on Saturday, Sept. 14 to move Nipawin to 2-0 on the season.

Mustang defenceman Jake Hobson said they just can’t seem to catch any breaks offensively.

“We just got to get pucks through, pucks to the net,” he said. “Once we break that ice, I’m sure it will start flowing. But we just got to get that first one, it’s been tough.”

In the first period, things seemed to open in Melfort’s favour with an early powerplay. However, late in the penalty, Jake Tremblay forced a turnover and went in on a breakaway, scoring his second of the year to make it 1-0. Things went well even after that in the first period as the Hawks outshot Melfort 12-7.

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Halfway through the second period was when we saw the next goal. This one came from Carson Erhardt on the powerplay as a shot from the point found it’s way through.

Throughout the game, it seemed as though the Mustangs could not get many pucks through. Nipawin was blocking plenty of shots from making their way to goalie Ethan Slobodzian.

“That’s Nipawin,” Hobson said. “They’re good at that. But we’ve got to find lanes, we’ve got to move, we’ve got to take that first step. It’s on us as well, we’ve got to get open, we’ve got to get into those good areas.”

The Mustangs put some pressure on the Hawks in the third and even had some powerplay time, but they could not seem to get a puck passed Slobodzian who stopped 26 shots on Saturday for the win and his second shutout.

Meanwhile, for Melfort, Hobson said even though they’re 0-2, there is no panic in their dressing room.

“It’s early,” he said. “We just have to keep telling ourselves it’s early. It’s our second game, we’ve still got lots to work on, we got lots of young guys that are feeling their way of junior.

The Mustangs get back in the saddle on Tuesday, Sept. 17 as they travel to La Ronge to take on the Ice Wolves who are also 0-2 to start the SJHL season.

(L to R) Prince Albert MP Randy Hoback, Mustang President Chad Elliott, and Melfort MLA Todd Goudy were in attendance for the ceremonial puck drop that was taken by Jake Hobson (Mustangs) and Jake Tremblay (Hawks). (Mat Barrett/northeastNOW Staff)

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mat.barrett@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @matbarrett6