(Mat Barrett/Melfort Mustangs)

By Mat Barrett

Building Snowmen

Mustangs respond in big way against Hawks to close out 2022

Dec 18, 2022 | 9:43 AM

After a lackluster performance on Friday night in Nipawin, losing 6-3, the Melfort Mustangs dominated the Nipawin Hawks in the back half of a home and home on Saturday night at the Palace.

Melfort would ultimately take this one by an 8-3 score in what turned out to be a wild affair with plenty of rough stuff, and plenty of offense.

Mustangs forward Clarke Huxley had two assists on the night and called it a big win for their group.

“Going into the Christmas Break, we wanted to go out on a high note,” he said. “And last night definitely wasn’t the note we wanted to leave on so we had to right the ship today.”

Boston Maxwell got the Mustangs on the board in the first period off a deflection on the powerplay, and through one period, that’s where things stood.

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Although in the second period, the game opened up as a total of eight goals were scored in the middle frame. Six goals were scored in the first eight minutes of the second, putting Melfort up 5-2 at that point, before they scored another two within 27 seconds late in the period.

Ben Tkachuk, David Rioux, Kevin Minnoch, Tye Evans, Ryan Duguay, and Ty Thornton all scored in the second for the Mustangs, while Nipawin got contributions from Chase Visser and F.X. Bedard.

Huxley said the key on Saturday night was simple.

“Just effort,” Huxley said. “We talked about it in the room. They outworked us on Friday night and we weren’t going to let that happen tonight.”

Minnoch added one more for Melfort in the third, while Alex Johnson matched it for Nipawin.

The game also saw its fair share of rough stuff as Melfort had seven chances on the powerplay, and Nipawin earned eight. The two teams also combined for 68 minutes in penalties, which also included a fight.

Melfort improves to 17-9-5-1 heading into the Christmas Break, good for 40 points and sixth in the SJHL.

They’ll be back in action on Friday, January 6 when they host the Hawks once again.

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matbarrett@melfortmustangs.com

On Twitter: @matbarrett6