(Ben Tompkins/northeastNOW)

By Ben Tompkins

Neutral-site game

Late overtime goal sinks Mustangs in Kamsack

Oct 29, 2023 | 9:20 AM

The Melfort Mustangs were unable to complete the weekend sweep of the Yorkton Terriers on Saturday night, as they suffered a 3-2 overtime loss.

The Broda Sportsplex in Kamsack was the host of the second game of the home-and-home series, as part of a handful of neutral-site contests in the SJHL this season.

After ending their first losing streak of the season at home on Friday, the Mustangs couldn’t begin a new winning streak, as the Terriers ended a losing streak of their own right, winning for the first time in seven tries.

Yorkton led early, as they held a 1-0 lead after the first period, courtesy of Colton Koran’s second goal of the year.

Melfort would tie it up after 40 minutes of play, as a second-period tap-in from Logan Belton (his fifth) made it 1-1.

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The Stangs then claimed their first and only lead of the matchup, just 3:55 into the third, as defenceman Bo Eisner scored his first career SJHL goal.

Eisner, a Swan River, MB. product hand numerous family members in attendance on the night, as his hometown was only about an hour away to the east.

Unfortunately, for him and his team, that wouldn’t stand up as the game-winner, as Dylan Ruptash tied it just over four minutes later (with his fourth), which sent the game to overtime, knotted up at twos.

Netminder for the Blue and Green, James Venne, had multiple incredible saves on the evening, which included one with his back, toe, arm, and glove, as he kept his group in it throughout regulation and into the extra frame.

It just wasn’t quite enough though, as a late turnover by David Rioux gave the puck to Clay Sleeva who ended the matchup with just 3.2 seconds remaining on a partial breakaway over the glove, to notch his fifth goal on the year.

The loss handed Melfort their first non-regulation loss of the season, as they were previously 4 and 0 in sudden death/the shootout.

The win gives the Terriers a 4-7-1-1 record, while the Mustangs, now 10-3-1 on the year, will have to regroup on Wednesday night at the Northern Lights Palace when they host the visiting Estevan Bruins.

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Ben.Tompkins@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @BenTompkins_8