(Submitted photo courtesy/Broad Leaf Media)

By Ben Tompkins

Poor Effort

Mustangs heavily outplayed by Melville in Coombs’ first career start

Oct 22, 2023 | 12:58 PM

The Melfort Mustangs showcased their worst effort of the season on Saturday night, which resulted in a 4-3 loss to the Melville Millionaires.

The defeat represented the Mustangs’ first loss at home, and just their second loss altogether, on the season, as they move to 9 and 2.

It was an unfortunate display for the group, especially considering it was their netminder, Kristan Coombs’, first career SJHL start, who was their only bright spot on the evening.

“We just got out-competed tonight, we weren’t as physical as we should have been and we just flat out weren’t good enough tonight,” said Melfort assistant captain and defenceman, Chase Friedt-Mohr.

“I thought (Coombs) was really good, he had a bunch of high-danger, breakaways on him that shouldn’t have happened and he kept us right in it. There might be a bounce here or there, but he had his first start and I thought he did really good.”

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While the shot clock may have shown a different story, as Melfort outshot Melville, 37-20, it was the quality of these shots that dictated the outcome.

Coombs had about four to five breakaways against him, one a two-on-one, and only allowed one of those opportunities to result in a goal.

The other markers for the Millionaires came off of screens or deflections in front, and second or third chances that the Stangs just shouldn’t have allowed them to get to.

“We just got to be harder on pucks, harder on guys, and finish our checks. We had guys sneaking by us, including myself, the third goal was my fault, the guy snuck right by me and just wasn’t physical enough on them,” Friedt-Mohr added.

Lucky enough for the Blue and Green, they will get the opportunity to put this game behind them, nearly immediately, as they’ll play the second contest of a home and home against the Millionaires on Tuesday.

According to Friedt-Mohr a hard practice or two will become between now and then, so his team is ready to go for the road trip to Melville.

“We just got to get a Monday practice here, suppose it’s gonna be a hard one of competing and battling here to get ready for Melville again on Tuesday in their barn. The focus is just going to be to play hard,” he told northeastNOW.

Tuesday night’s matchup can be listened to on 105 CJVR, beginning with the pre-game show at 6:45 p.m., with puck drop to follow at 7 p.m.

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Ben.Tompkins@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @BenTompkins_8