Mustangs last Calcutta Shootout back in Dec. 2019 (Submitted photo/Melfort Mustangs)

By Ben Tompkins

Meet the parents

Returning Calcutta Shootout highlights Mustangs annual Parent Weekend

Dec 1, 2021 | 4:46 PM

It’s been two years since the Melfort Mustangs got to celebrate their parent weekend after last year’s event was cancelled due to COVID-19.

With the Mustangs hosting three games in total this week, two of those being on the weekend, it presented the team an opportunity to start off their December with some Christmas spirit while celebrating with their families.

Before Friday and Saturday night’s games, both the billet families and the players’ parents will be honoured and announced to a welcoming crowd at the Northern Lights Palace.

Friday night’s contest against the Yorkton Terriers will also host the annual Teddy Bear Toss when the Mustangs score their first goal, and following the conclusion of Saturday night’s matchup against the Melville Millionaires, the annual Calcutta Shootout will take place to raise money for the team and the winning bidder.

Mat Barrett, director of Marketing and Business for the Melfort Mustangs told northeast there’s a lot of excitement around this weekend, to recognize those who have affected the boys the most.

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“It’s a great weekend for us to be able to celebrate and honour our billets and parents and bring them all together for one weekend,” he said. “Just to be able to thank them for raising and housing these boys while they come play for us. It’s also a great opportunity for everyone to meet each other if they haven’t already.”

Barrett also mentioned how this reflected some of the greatest things Mustang hockey has to offer and it’s great that everyone can be here for it.

“There are drinks, introductions before the games on both nights and then we’ll be able to have the Calcutta Shootout after that. It’s just a nice, fun way for people to be able to stick around and see these boys have some fun and try and help win some fans some money. Overall, it’s just a fun weekend for everyone to be in Melfort and enjoy Mustang hockey at its best.”

And after a two-year break since any of these events have happened, Barrett said it’s especially nice for those who may have missed out and may now be experiencing it for the very first time.

“Some of these guys who were here last year didn’t get that excitement and there’s only been a few guys who were here two years ago for it,” he said. “It’s kind of been a few years in the making for some of these guys, especially our 20 year olds who have missed it for a while. The whole weekend is just great for the players to bring their families together and just show them what goes on around here.”

And of course for the parents, especially those who may live a couple of provinces away, this will be a special weekend for them, as well.

“The parents get to meet the parents if you will,” said Barrett. “It’s kind of fun for them to be able to see this is where their child is staying for six to eight months of the year and it’s nice for the billets to be able to meet who raised that young hockey player. Just to see what it’s like in Melfort, some of these kids come from way out west or way out east, so to be able to bring them all to Melfort and see what Melfort has to offer and see what kind of organization we run here is fantastic.”

The auction for the Calcutta Shootout will begin at 12:30 PM on Saturday at the Melfort Curling Club as draft picks will be bid on to select your player, coach, goalie or mystery player. It will be an elimination-style event, with one winning shooter and goalie.

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Ben.Tompkins@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter @BenTompkins_8