(Photo courtesy/Broad Leaf Media)

By Ben Tompkins

2024/25 Campaign

Mustangs begin ‘defending champion’ season in La Ronge

Sep 20, 2024 | 2:41 PM

The Melfort Mustangs will start their 2024/25 SJHL regular season on the road tonight when they battle the Ice Wolves in La Ronge.

Melfort, who come into the season as the defending league champions, are ready to begin their year with a hard-fought road win, in what may be considered the toughest building to play in, in the SJHL.

“We’re excited, I think we got a really good group to go in there for their home opener, and we’re really looking forward to starting off in their rink,” said Mustangs’ defenceman, Ty Thornton.

“We got a lot of experience from last year, after winning especially, and we have a lot of guys returning this year, so I’m hoping those guys can step up to the plate and show the young guys how it’s done.”

For those young guys in particular, the contest is set to serve as a perfect welcome to the league moment, as a physical divisional rivalry will likely unravel.

Season Opener

Hawks open SJHL regular season on the road in Flin Flon

9h ago

Municipal election nominations

Municipal election nomination period opening in local communities

Sep 19, 2024

Weapons at school

Weapons found in Dillon school yard

Sep 19, 2024

According to Thornton and what he saw from the new guys, both in camp and during the preseason, they are ready for the challenge.

“I think it’s good for the young guys to get exposure there, we’re gonna play there lots this year, and it’s a very tough rink to play in. It’s a smaller rink and they like to hit and run and gun, so I think it’ll be a good test for our young guys coming in, and hopefully, our big guys can step up,” Thornton told northeastNOW.

“I’m expecting our young guys to come out hard, they’re going to want to prove why they’re here and showcase the reasons why they got picked to stay, so I’m expecting them to come out guns a blazing.”

While La Ronge wasn’t exactly the cream of the crop during last year’s regular season, finishing 11th of 12th, Thornton knows the Ice Wolves will be looking to bounce back, especially during their season/home opener.

With that in mind, along with the newly implemented puck-over-glass rule, which is set to be extra tricky at the Mel Hegland Uniplex, Thornton explained it will be a difficult victory to earn.

“I’m expecting them to come out hard, they’ll be coming out hitting, finishing checks, and giving us a run for our money, so we got to match them and be better than them in those cases,” he concluded.

“We haven’t really gone over the delay of game penalty, but we know it’s a small rink there with a low roof, so we’ll have to simplify our game a little bit and just go from there.”

Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Unfortunately, the matchup won’t be broadcast on 105 CJVR, as both the Riders and Huskies’ football team will be broadcast on CJVR and 750 Beach Radio instead.

–

Ben.Tompkins@pattisonmedia.com

On X @BenTompkins_8