The club’s sniper; Ryan Duguay Player Profile
The Melfort Mustangs are 2024 SJHL Champions, which means their nine 20-year-old players have gone out in style.
While they have all turned their attention to the Centennial Cup, their final career SJHL game is one to remember.
For Ryan Duguay, his most memorable game may have been Game 7 against the Humboldt Broncos in the SJHL semi-finals, as he scored the winner in overtime to send his team to the league title.
Regardless of what moment may have been the best, the entirety of his playoff run was one to be recognized, as he put up 14 goals (four of which were winners) and 10 assists in just 17 games.
Having moved on to the National Championship, he’ll try to replicate that clutch gene, as he knows just a few games remain in his Junior A hockey career.
“I know we all dream of winning a championship, especially at home, so it still hasn’t fully settled in yet and every day it just keeps getting more and more real, so it’s just super exciting and I’m super honoured,” Duguay told northeastNOW.
“Now though, I’m focused on the Centennial Cup, which is obviously a super big opportunity and a dream come true for a Junior hockey career. Finally being able to do it in my 20-year-old season makes it more special, so I’m just super pumped and ready to keep going.”
Duguay arrived in Melfort about a month into the 2022/23 season, after spending parts of two years in the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL).
Hailing from Edmonton, he never expected to play in the SJHL, never mind it being the best landing spot for him in his junior career.
“I originally hoped to stay in Alberta just because it’s close to home, we all love to be at home, so that was a big thing for me. Coming here, I’ve enjoyed every minute of it and we’ve had so much success and I’ve had so much success, so it’s been a great couple of years. I’ll never forget my time here because it’s been the best years of my career,” Duguay added.
“I’ve created some lifelong friendships here, I’ve had great coaches, everything here has been amazing and I’m just so pumped that we were able to bring the cup back to Melfort because they deserve it. The fans were unreal, the atmosphere was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced and I’ll cherish it forever.”
In a combined 92 games of SJHL action, the 2003-born forward registered an impressive 113 points, 12 of which were game-winning goals.
Whether he set up a teammate or scored a huge marker, Duguay was one of the best for his precision accuracy, especially during the biggest moments.
He is very grateful to be a part of this year’s Mustangs group, alongside his fellow 20-year-old teammates in Aidyn Hutchinson, Clay Sleeva, Leith Olafson, Chase Friedt-Mohr, Nolan Henderson, Logan Cox, Hayden Prosofsky and Tye Evans, and can’t believe that his time in northeast Saskatchewan is now in the past.
“Every day when you come to the rink you just look around. Time is coming to an end but it’s not a bad thing, it’s a little sad obviously but we had a great year and hopefully, we can finish off on a great note. Having taken in the Palace one last time, there are lots of memories here and it’s been very emotional, but it’s all been awesome,” concluded Duguay.
“These 20-year-olds are amazing, we have nine for a reason, they mean everything to us and this team, and I’m so happy to be able to battle with them all year and get a championship. Our rookies and 19-year-olds too, everyone has been resilient and I’ve never seen a group like us. We’ve been through a lot this year, but we still found a way, and I’m just so proud of them all.”
Duguay made an immediate impact the second he arrived with the Blue and Green and has refused to look back.
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Ben.Tompkins@pattisonmedia.com
On X @BenTompkins_8
