(Photo courtesy/Broad Leaf Media, Facebook)

By Ben Tompkins

Goalie of the Year?

Mustangs’ Venne takes home Sask Player of the Week after final starts of the season

Mar 13, 2024 | 6:00 AM

It was another typical week for the Melfort Mustangs’ MVP, as he backstopped his team to three of a possible three victories.

Saskatoon netminder James Venne has been named the SJHL’s Saskatchewan Player of the Week, as he continues to roll on arguably the hottest team in the country.

The Melfort Mustangs have now won nine games in a row, eight of which Venne has started, as he swept the competition this past week.

In the first game of the week, the 19-year-old stopped 34 of 35 shots his way, as the Mustangs took down the CJHL’s second-ranked Flin Flon Bombers on Wednesday.

The six-foot-three, 175-pounder followed that up with a 23-save performance against the Nipawin Hawks on Friday, as his club officially eliminated their rivals from playoff contention.

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He then concluded the week on Sunday afternoon, following the team’s awards banquet on Saturday, at which he was named their most valuable player, only letting one slip by him on 24 attempts against the La Ronge Ice Wolves, which officially clinched second place for his team.

Overall, the league MVP nominee stopped 80 of 84 on the week for a 3 and 0 record, a 1.33 goals-against-average and a .952 save percentage.

With just one game left on the schedule for the Stangs, Venne is likely to get a rest.

That means the regular season is over for him, begging the question if he did enough to be named the SJHL’s best, along with the top goalie.

In his third season as a Mustang, the proud Saskatchewan resident ranks third in goals-against-average, first in wins, first in minutes, tied for second in shutouts, fourth in saves, fourth in save percentage, tied for first in shootout wins, and first in shootout save percentage.

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Ben.Tompkins@pattisonmedia.com

On X @BenTompkins_8

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