(Submitted photo/Mat Barrett, Melfort Mustangs)

By Ben Tompkins

Oh captain my captain

Ben Tkachuk named Mustangs captain as Melfort announces 2021-22 leadership group

Oct 13, 2021 | 5:16 PM

The Melfort Mustangs have chosen their leadership group that will guide and lead their team throughout this season.

2002-born forward Ben Tkachuk has been named captain, while 2001-born forwards Seth McCulloch, and Tye Scherger, and 2001-born defenceman Lucas Ochitwa have been named assistant captains for this year.

Tkachuk, whose father Kelly was also a Mustangs captain in his playing days during the 1990/91 Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) season, is currently leading the team with 11 points through the first nine games of the season. He said he is honoured to be leading this team alongside his great assistant captains.

“I am extremely honoured to be a captain of this team,” Tkachuk said. “We have a very special group this year and I am very excited to lead along with Seth, Lucas, and Tye.”

Tkachuk, who dawns the number nine this year, is in his third season with the blue and green and as of today, has played a total of 74 regular season and playoff games, scoring 36 points over that stretch. Tkachuk, who comes from Gronlid, is currently tied for ninth in the league in points with two other players.

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Another third-year Mustang, McCulloch, who wears the number 20, has played a grand total of 66 games as a Melfort Mustang, scoring 21 points, and adding 157 penalty minutes. He has nine points in eight games to start this season, which is good for third on the team. McCulloch’s hometown is Coutts, Alta.

Another assistant for the team and a former first-round SJHL draft pick of the Mustangs, Ochitwa has played parts of the last four seasons on the Melfort blueline (1gp in 2018/2019 as a call-up). He’s played in 65 games over that time, notching 20 points and 160 penalty minutes. The Wadena native has six points in nine games to start the season, which gives him the current team lead for points as a defenceman.

And the final assistant, Tye Scherger, who is in just his second year with the Mustangs, however, is no stranger to Junior A hockey. The former first-round SJHL draft pick started his career in Olds, Alta, playing 54 career games before coming to Melfort prior to the shutdown last season. Scherger also suited up for the Battlefords North Stars in the 2017-18 regular season, however, he only played four games and didn’t register any stats. Scherger has played 14 games for the Mustangs over two seasons, adding five points, three of which have come this year in just nine games.

Speaking of the (5-3-1-0) Battlefords North Stars, they visit the SJHL-leading (7-1-0-1) Melfort Mustangs at the Northern Lights Palace tonight, Oct. 13, with puck-drop at 7:30 p.m. Mandatory masking and proof of vaccination will be required to attend.

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Ben.Tompkins@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter @BenTompkins_8