(Mat Barrett/Melfort Mustangs)

By Mat Barrett

Leading Leroux

Leroux leads Mustangs to brink of second round with overtime winner in game five

Mar 26, 2023 | 10:12 AM

Dawson Leroux was the hero on Friday night as the Melfort Mustangs defeated the La Ronge Ice Wolves in overtime, 2-1 to take a 3-2 series lead in their first round series.

The Mustangs dominated most of the night, outshooting the Ice Wolves 49-23, even having a 9-0 lead in the first period. Although they weren’t able to score until the 1:39 mark of the second period when David Rioux cleaned up a rebound for his first career SJHL playoff goal.

The Mustangs would continue to press through the second and into the third, but Dawson Smith stood tall in the La Ronge net. His play would help the Ice Wolves come back in the hockey game as Walker Jerome tied things up with less than five minutes to play, leading to the third overtime in six games this series. Leroux said even though they gave up a late goal, there was no doubt in the room.

“We were real positive in the room in the overtime intermission,” he said. “And that’s what helped us get it done.”

It was the longest overtime of the three games as it took Leroux 9:26 to put one home on a powerplay off a sweet feed from Aidyn Hutchinson.

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Leroux said this was probably the Mustangs most complete effort of the series so far.

“We were good for pretty much the whole sixty minutes, other than they got the one goal, so we can’t really complain about that. And Favreau was unreal to backstop us.”

Favreau stopped 22 of 23 for his third win of the playoffs.

Melfort now has a chance to finish off the Ice Wolves in La Ronge in game six on Sunday. Puck drop is a 5 p.m.

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matbarrett@melfortmustangs.com

On Twitter: @matbarrett6