(Photo courtesy/Broad Leaf Media, Facebook)

By Ben Tompkins

Division Rivals

Mustangs to begin 2023/24 SJHL season at home against Ice Wolves

Jun 29, 2023 | 6:00 PM

The 2023/24 Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) schedule has been released for every team.

This means that the Melfort Mustangs know who all of their opponents will be, and when are whey they will face off against them.

The new season opens Sep. 22nd with a total of five games on the schedule, including when the Stangs host the La Ronge Ice Wolves at the Northern Lights Palace in Melfort.

This will likely be a feisty start to the regular season for both clubs as the Mustangs defeated the Ice Wolves in six games in the first round of the playoffs, last past season.

Meanwhile, the schedule will feature the SJHL Showcase which will be held from Nov. 13th to 16th in Warman (the Stangs will play the Notre Dame Hounds and Yorkton Terriers on Nov. 13th and 15th respectively).

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“It is an exciting time for the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League,” said SJHL commissioner Kyle McIntyre. “Last season we had an outstanding season where we saw an exciting regular season and playoffs, the most NCAA and Usport Scholarships in league history, and the presentation of the first Canterra Seeds Cup. I can’t wait for the puck to drop on our upcoming season.”

Each club will play a total of 56 games, which includes six (three home and away) against each division rival.

Melfort will head to La Ronge for the first time on Oct. 20th.

Other division firsts include at Flin Flon on Sep. 23rd and hosting the Bombers on Jan. 6th, as well as in Nipawin on Nov. 11th and against the Hawks at home on Nov. 17th.

Another rivalry of note, the Humboldt Broncos will be at the Palace on Nov. 24th, followed by a meeting in Humboldt on Nov. 25th.

Other matchups of note include the first meeting with the defending SJHL Champion Battlefords North Stars when the Stars come to the Palace to see the Mustangs on Oct. 18th, while Melfort won’t visit the Stars until March 1st and 2nd.

The blue and green will also play a neutral site game on the road this year when they face the Yorkton Terriers in Kamsack on Oct. 28th.

“The general managers get together and make the schedule, and there are some things like five or six road games in a row that are unfortunate, but that’s just the way it works out sometimes. The bottom line is 56 games, you’re going to have to compete in them all, it really doesn’t matter as long as they’re spaced out. We just have to be ready to go every night,” Head Coach and General Manager Trevor Blevins told northeastNOW.

“We were definitely happy with the rival games that we have, close games on the weekends always draw good crowds, so we’re happy with that, and then lost of Friday night dates at home,” he added.

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Ben.Tompkins@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter @BenTompkins_8