(Submitted/Broad Leaf Media)

By Mat Barrett

Afternoon Affair

Mustangs fall to Hawks in shootout in front of season-high attendance

Mar 6, 2023 | 2:49 PM

More than 1,600 fans sure got a show on Sunday afternoon at the Northern Lights Palace as the Melfort Mustangs fell to the Nipawin Hawks 3-2 in a shootout.

It was a game that certainly proved the rivalry between Melfort and Nipawin is alive and well as the teams combined for 73 minutes in penalties, and 14 powerplays aside. The Mustangs certainly played well enough to win at times, but the Hawks did as well.

Mustangs Captain Ben Tkachuk said there were a few key pieces that were detractors in their game.

“Decision-making and penalties,” he said. “Overall we were the heavier team but couldn’t execute and had some tough penalties that hurt us.”

Hayden Tuba opened the scoring for the Mustangs just over a minute into the hockey game on a powerplay, but it was answered by Nipawin just 10 minutes later as Alex Ochitwa tied things up.

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The Hawks would get the lone second period goal as Alyandro De Leon gave the Hawks their first lead of the night. Melfort kept pushing but couldn’t beat Jackson Fellner who stopped 21 of 23 for Nipawin.

Leyton Holoien tied things up early in the third for the Mustangs to set up a wild finish in front of the best crowd of the season the Palace.

Both teams had chances late, but couldn’t get one to go, forcing overtime. Each team had a few chances, but the best one came off the stick of Mustangs forward Tye Evans off a Hawks turnover. Evans went in on a partial break with less than a minute to go in overtime, and was hauled down, but got a partial shot off in the process, giving Melfort a brief powerplay with 20 seconds to go in the game. They were unable to capitalize, leading things to a shootout.

Riley Ashe and Zac Somers each shot for Melfort and missed while Ochitwa, and Carson Dobson scored for Nipawin.

The loss is Melfort’s second in a row after a 6-1 loss to La Ronge on Friday. Tkachuk said they know where the team can get to, but they need to execute.

“The toughest part has been knowing that we have a championship roster but just not executing to our fullest potential,” Tkachuk said.

Melfort has two games remaining in their schedule and are currently tied for fourth with La Ronge. The two will meet in the first round of the SJHL Playoffs, but it is still to be determined who will have home ice. Both teams have two games left.

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matbarrett@melfortmustangs.com

On Twitter: @matbarrett6