Shawn Parkinson (Left) and Zach Anderson (Right) both committed to post-secondary schools in the past week. (Facebook/Broad Leaf Media)

By Mat Barrett

Mustangs Commitments

Busy week sees two Mustang graduates commit to post-secondary hockey

Jul 27, 2020 | 12:00 PM

It’s been a busy week or so for the Melfort Mustangs when it comes to college commitments.

Since July 22, two more graduates have officially committed to post-secondary institutions for the 2020/2021 hockey season.

On Wednesday, July 22, the Mustangs announced goalie Shawn Parkinson committed to MacEwan University in Edmonton. MacEwan is set to enter its first season in USports this coming year.

Parkinson came to Melfort in October of 2018 and made an immediate impact, posting a 17-6-2 record, to go along with a 2.59 goals against average, and a .909 save percentage. He and Noah Giesbrecht formed one of the more dangerous goalie tandems in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League in that 2018/2019 season as the Mustangs made it all the way to the SJHL Finals. Parkinson played in five games during those playoffs posting a 1.91 goals against, and a .933 save percentage.

For the 2019/2020 season, Parkinson was given the net as the starter from day one. His 25 wins in 44 games were tied for first in the SJHL. A 2.36 goals against put him second in the league, and his five shutouts were also tops in the league, three of those shutouts came in the final three games of the season. A .919 save percentage placed Parkinson eighth in that category.

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The 20-year-old netminder went into the playoffs and continued his dominance as he and the Mustangs burst out to a 3-1 series lead over Estevan before the COVID-19 pandemic brought things to a halt. Parkinson had a .927 save percentage and a 1.45 goals against in those four contests.

“Melfort was a great place for me to play. The billets, teammates, coaches, and community made it home for me.” Parkinson said in a release. “I’m looking forward to continuing my education at MacEwan while competing at a high level.”

Parkinson joins fellow Mustangs graduate Colin Schmidt at MacEwan as well. Schmidt committed last year.

Meanwhile, Zach Anderson has decided on the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) for his post-secondary hockey career. The Calgary, Alta. born forward has committed to Breircrest College in southern Saskatchewan.

Anderson spent his whole Junior A career in Melfort and was an excellent contributor at both ends of the ice. In his 2017/2018 rookie season, Anderson scored five times in 38 games while adding 12 assists for 17 points. He also scored once in five playoff games that year. The 2018/2019 season was Anderson breakout year as he scored 16 goals and added 16 assists for 32 points in 52 games. He was fourth on the team in goals that season. In the Mustangs trip to the finals in those playoffs, Anderson had seven points in 16 games.

This past season, Anderson would get into 50 regular season games, scoring 12 times, and chipping in 19 assists for 31 points. Anderson would also score one of the last goals of the Mustang season on March 11 in Estevan as he opened the scoring in the first period, a game the Mustangs went on to win 2-1. It was Anderson’s only goal in two playoff games this year.

“Melfort really helped me grow, both as a player and as a person,” Anderson said in a release. “I wouldn’t have wanted to spend my junior career anywhere else.”

Anderson finishes his Junior career with 163 games played in the regular season and playoffs. That puts him in a tie for 57^th on the Mustangs all-time list.

Parkinson and Anderson’s commitments make six Mustang graduates who have post-secondary homes for next season.

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mat.barrett@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @matbarrett6