(Mat Barrett/Melfort Mustangs)

By Mat Barrett

Falling Short

Mustangs fall to Stars in game one of SJHL semi-final

Apr 1, 2023 | 9:56 AM

The Melfort Mustangs have fallen behind 1-0 in their best-of-seven semi-final series against the Battlefords North Stars.

It was a 5-2 final in favour of the Stars who outshot the Mustangs 39-28 in the game.

The Mustangs were tied 1-1 with the Stars through 20 minutes of play, with the help of a late – 0.4 seconds remaining – goal from Ben Tkachuk, but in the second period, the Stars took things to the Mustangs and led 3-1 after two. Mustangs Assistant Coach Dan Meyers said they had the gameplan in motion in the first, but didn’t follow through the rest of the way.

“They have a lot of top end players there,” Meyers said. “And to get physical on them, I think we did that in the first, but we didn’t continue it.”

Clarke Huxley gave the Mustangs some life late in the third with a goal to make it 4-2, but that fire was extinguished as the Stars fired one into the empty net.

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While the Mustangs are behind 1-0 in the series, Meyers said the teams confidence hasn’t changed at all.

“We’re good, this is game one,” he said.

Melfort also lost game one of their last series against the La Ronge Ice Wolves.

Game two of the series goes on Saturday back in North Battleford. Puck drop is 7:30 p.m.

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matbarrett@melfortmustangs.com

On Twitter: @matbarrett6