(Mat Barrett/northeastNOW Staff)

By Mat Barrett

Battlefords Bummer

Emotional night in Battlefords results in Mustangs loss to North Stars

Feb 8, 2020 | 7:30 AM

Strange is one of the few words to describe the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) game between the Melfort Mustangs and Battlefords North Stars on Friday, Feb. 7 in North Battleford. It resulted in a 4-2 loss for the Mustangs.

The Mustangs received the first powerplay of the game, and two in total in the first period, compared to Battlefords’ two powerplays, but in the final two periods things turned.

The North Stars had 10 powerplays overall in the hockey game, and were on the man advantage for what seemed to be the most of the second period while Melfort had four powerplays overall in the hockey game. Jaxon Steele scored a powerplay marker early into a five-minute major to make it 1-0, and then when another penalty expired, the Stars scored again. Noah Form notched his tenth of the year to make it 2-0, and that seemed to be where things came unglued.

Mustangs Head Coach Trevor Blevins didn’t appreciate a non-call earlier in the play and let the referees know about it. That resulted in the Melfort bench boss getting tossed from the hockey game.

From that point on, the rough stuff got even more constant with scrums seeming to occur after every whistle, but on the scoreboard, the North Stars had the 2-0 advantage and a 22-13 shot advantage after two.

Basketball and Beyond

Honouring Michael Linklater: Indigenous basketball icon and youth advocate

1h ago

Fatal crash in Humboldt

Crash in Humboldt kills one, injures another

2h ago

Crash near Melfort

Serious crash on Highway 41 near Melfort; drivers asked to avoid area

2h ago

In the third, a Ben Hiltz breakaway goal gave Battlefords a 3-0 lead with about 11 minutes to play. But the Mustangs were not going down without a fight. Tyson Meyers scored at the 13:30 mark of the period, then Kenzie Arnold notched his 20th of the year with about three minutes to play. However, the comeback would fall short as the North Stars found the empty net with a minute to play.

Fortunately for the Mustangs, their next game action is Saturday, Feb. 8 as they visit the Kindersley Klippers. After Friday’s loss, the Mustangs now sit sixth in the SJHL, but are just two points back of fourth, and three back of third, with games in hand.

–

mat.barrett@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @matbarrett6