Damon Byers (Submitted photo/Melfort Mustangs)

By Ben Tompkins

Trade frenzy

Mustangs involved in four trades during COVID pause

Jan 18, 2022 | 5:01 PM

The first month of the year is more than halfway over, yet the Melfort Mustangs have only played three games total in 2022.

That number three is one less than four, which is the exact number of trades the Mustangs have already done in that exact same time frame.

The reasonings for both the lack of games and the surge in management moves can be somewhat pointed in the direction of a 13-day break between games one and two for the year, which included a five-day COVID-19 pause for their organization.

Melfort made their first trade a day before their COVID-19 pause in a trade with Bonnyville, which got the whole trade ball rolling. The other three trades were announced roughly a week later.

To start, the Mustangs added 2001-born forward Danny Ciccarello from the Salmon Arm Silverbacks of the BCHL in exchange for future considerations.

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Danny Ciccarello (Photo Credit/Chris Fowler, Salmon Arm Silverbacks)

Ciccarello, a product of Kirkland, Que., has spent the last season and a half with the Silverbacks. In 27 games this season, Ciccarello has scored four goals and added six assists for 10 points.

In 18 games during the 2020/2021 season, Ciccarello scored three goals and tallied four assists for seven points with the Silverbacks.

Prior to his time in Salmon Arm, Ciccarello spent three years at St. Mark’s School in the United States High School Prep ranks. He totalled 163 points in 89 games during his career there.

Ciccarello is also committed to Rensselaer Polytech Institute (RPI) of the East College Athletic Conference NCAA Division I for next season.

Melfort then traded 2002-born defenceman Damon Byers to the Estevan Bruins in exchange for a player development fee (PDF).

Byers, out of Edson, Alta., played 15 games for the Mustangs this season scoring three goals and adding two assists for five points.

And finally, the Mustangs added 2002-born forward Clarke Huxley and future considerations from the Fort McMurray Oil Barons in exchange for Ciccarello.

Clarke Huxley (Submitted photo/Melfort Mustangs)

Huxley, from Calgary, Alta., was in his second season with the Oil Barons. In 38 games this season, the 6-2 forward scored four goals and added 10 assists for 14 points.

“Clarke is a very versatile player that will fit well with our group,” said Mustangs head coach and general manager Trevor Blevins. “He is a big, strong, power forward with skill, and he is able to play in all situations.

In the COVID-19 shortened 2020/2021 season, Huxley played in nine games for Fort McMurray, scoring one goal and adding three assists for four points. Huxley also spent two seasons with the Calgary Northstars U18 AAA program.

Melfort, who recently had their 10-game win streak snapped in an unusual home and home weekend against the Broncos, will play their fourth game of 2022 tomorrow, Jan. 19, against the Estevan Bruins.

That game will be played at the Northern Lights Palace in Melfort as the Mustangs look to get back on the winning side with their recently slightly-altered roster.

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Ben.Tompkins@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter @BenTompkins_8