(Mat Barrett/Melfort Mustangs)

By Mat Barrett

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Mustangs streak ends with lackluster performance against Hawks

Dec 17, 2022 | 9:34 AM

For the first time since early November, the Melfort Mustangs have lost an SJHL game in regulation.

It was a 6-3 decision at the hands of the Nipawin Hawks on Friday night in Nipawin, ending the Mustangs’ streak of 11 games with at least a point earned.

Mustangs Assistant Coach Dan Meyers said it wasn’t a good performance on their end as they were “second to everything”.

“In the skating department, in hitting, the shots,” he said. “All of the above, they were beating us at every point in the game.”

For the Hawks, it all started at the 6:07 mark of the first period courtesy of Hudson Cameron’s first of the year. It stayed 1-0 Nipawin until the first minute of the second period when Leyton Holoien knocked home his fifth of the year.

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The Mustangs outshot the Hawks 15-10 in the second period and seemed to have the momentum heading into the third. Although that ended quite quickly as Nipawin jumped ahead 3-1 before two minutes had elapsed. Zander Stewart and Alex Ochitwa were the goal scorers early in the frame, while Cameron’s second of the night made it 4-1 a little later in the period. At that point, the Mustangs got desperate and they were able to briefly get themselves back in the hockey game.

With just over five minutes left, Dawson Leroux would notch his fourth goal in just three games to give Melfort some life. Then, it was Hayden Tuba a few minutes later with the net empty to make it 4-3, but the Hawks would hold down the fort and get a pair of empty netters to send the Mustangs home with a loss.

Meyers said they’ll look ahead to Saturday, and hopefully have some more jump in the game.

“I think there’s lots of things you can factor [into the loss],” he said. “But you hate bringing up any excuses, so we’ll see what we bring tomorrow night.”

Game time at the Palace for the back half of the home and home is 7:30 p.m.

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matbarrett@melfortmustangs.com

On Twitter: @matbarrett6