(Mat Barrett/northeastNOW Staff)

By Mat Barrett

Mustangs Fall to Ice Wolves

Mustangs fall to Ice Wolves for third straight loss

Nov 21, 2020 | 9:19 AM

The Melfort Mustangs have dropped below .500 to early in this Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) season.

On Friday, Nov. 20, the Mustangs fell 3-1 to the La Ronge Ice Wolves in La Ronge to drop to 2-3-0-0 on the season.

Melfort dominated the early portion of the contest, spending the majority of the first half of the first period in the La Ronge end, and controlling play for most of the period in general, and they lead the shot clock battle 11-7. However, La Ronge did get on the board with a goal from Tristan Lambert who snuck behind the defence on a partial breakaway. That 1-0 didn’t stand long though as Ty Albrecht took a shorthanded two-on-one and ripped a shot top shelf for his first career SJHL to make it 1-1 after one period.

The Mustangs had two powerplays in the first period, and portions of a five-minute powerplay in the second period, but could not seem to get anything going on them. They went 0/6 on the evening and Head Coach Trevor Blevins said things started to go downhill with the lack of success causing some frustration.

“I thought there was a lack of mental toughness tonight,” he said. “We didn’t keep the work ethic up, and the attitude up, and usually that doesn’t end well.”

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Prior to the Ice Wolves taking the 2-1 lead, an unfortunate incident took place as Ice Wolves forward Carter Albrecht went to hit a Mustang and ended up colliding into the end boards in the La Ronge zone, leaving him nearly motionless on the ice for minutes. That caused a lengthy stoppage for both clubs as the teams headed to the dressing rooms and complete the second, and began the third after Albrecht was safely removed from the ice.

Brandon Della Paolera was the man to put the Wolves up as he scored with just under two minutes to play in the second. That was followed by a Mathieu Belanger goal with just over 10 to play in the third period to give the Ice Wolves some insurance. Melfort had a few chances late, but Blevins said there was a bit too much of individual play and trying to do a bit too much with the puck at times.

“I think we probably deserved a better fate earlier,” Blevins said. “But we certainly got what we deserved in the end.”

“It’s just one of those things you have to learn from again,” he added. “Seems like we’re getting taught a lot of lessons here lately, but we got to take it and respond.”

Saturday’s contest between the Mustangs and Ice Wolves has been cancelled.

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mat.barrett@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @matbarrett6