Reilly Kotai - left, is one of the newest members of the Melfort Mustangs (photo courtesy/Austin Bruins)

By Ben Tompkins

Roster Improvements

Mustangs make pair of offseason additions

Aug 29, 2024 | 4:58 PM

The Melfort Mustangs have made some more roster additions this off-season.

Melfort has recently added a pair of forwards, both of whom have prior experience in the Junior ‘A’ ranks.

First, it was 20-year-old forward Reilley Kotai from the Austin Bruins, whom the Mustangs added.

Reilly is the younger brother of former Battlefords North Stars and SJHL Goalie of the Year, Josh Kotai.

Reilly played this past season in the North American Hockey League (NAHL) with the Bruins, putting up four points (a goal and three assists) in 19 regular season games. He was held scoreless in three playoff contests.

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Prior to his time in Austin, the Abbotsford, BC native split parts of two seasons in the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) between the Langley Rivermen and Coquitlam Express.

In 58 regular season matches, Kotai registered five goals and eight assists for 13 points. He also added one goal in five postseason games.

The 2004-born junior hockey veteran stands six-foot-two and weighs 181 pounds.

Next up the Stangs added a bit more youth to the club, picking up Bryson Aikens from the Spruce Grove Saints.

The 18-year-old played just 10 regular season contests with Spruce Grove last year, posting a lone assist in his only Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) experience to date.

Before his time with the Saints, Aikens spent two seasons with the Prairie Hockey Academy organization in the Canadian Sport School Hockey League.

The Briercrest, SK native had a combined 20 goals and 31 assists (51 points) in 41 total games in the U18 ranks.

Meanwhile, the six-foot, 157-pound forward had 34 goals and 18 assists, good for 52 points, in 39 games (regular season and playoffs) at the U16 level.

Both players will soon be with the Blue and Green, as fall camp runs next weekend, ahead of exhibition play beginning on Sept. 9 against the Flin Flon Bombers.

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Ben.Tompkins@pattisonmedia.com

On X @BenTompkins_8