The Mustangs celebrate their win over Flin Flon on Friday, Nov. 6. (Facebook/Broad Leaf Media)

By Mat Barrett

Mustangs v.s Hawks

Mustangs set for weekend meeting with rival Hawks

Nov 13, 2020 | 8:00 AM

One of the best rivalries in Junior A hockey is set to be renewed this weekend in northeast Saskatchewan.

The Melfort Mustangs and Nipawin Hawks are set to meet in a home and home set and they will meet for a total of 10 games this year between the two clubs. Melfort is coming off a two game sweep of the Flin Flon Bombers to open the season as they won 8-3 on Tuesday, Nov. 10 and 3-1 on Friday, Nov. 6. Mustangs head coach and general manager Trevor Blevins said he was very pleased with how the team has opened the regular season.

“The compete level, and our defensive play, for the most part was what we were really focused in on for opening weekend,” he said. “The offence just kind of took care of itself which was nice to see.”

Friday won’t be the first time the Mustangs and Hawks meet this season however, as the two rivals met for four pre-season meetings in October prior to the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) season beginning. The clubs split the four game set.

“I think we could both write a book on each other for sure,” Blevins said. “As far as how we play and what’s expected.”

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Last season, the Mustangs and Hawks split the season series 5-5, and over the last five seasons, it’s all square and 20 games apiece.

With Friday’s game taking place at Centennial Arena in Nipawin, or ‘the cage’ as it’s more well known as, Blevins told northeastNOW, it’s a benefit they played in Flin Flon on Tuesday. He said it’s a good way for them to stay sharp mentally on how to play in smaller rinks such as Nipawin and Flin Flon.

“We have to go in and be extremely competitive,” Blevins said. “You’ve got to be hard in the hard areas of the rink.”

Blevins added with all the uncertainty of the season, he’s happy with how his group has handled things on and off the ice. He said in previous years, there’s maybe been a few more mistakes early on in the season, but so far it’s been “full checkmarks” for the first little bit of the season.

“This is a group that’s been extremely easy to coach,” he said. “And have adjusted.”

The Hawks are coming off a 7-3 win on Friday, Nov. 6 against La Ronge before their Saturday game was postponed due to weather.

Both games this weekend can be heard on Saskatchewan’s Beach Radio and beachradiosk.ca with Friday’s game starting with the pre-game show at 7:15 p.m. with Mat Barrett.

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mat.barrett@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @matbarrett