(Photo courtesy/Wild Moon Photography)

By Ben Tompkins

Busy Week

Mustangs host awards banquet, down Ice Wolves in 24-hour span

Mar 10, 2025 | 4:09 PM

The Melfort Mustangs wrapped up a busy week starting Saturday evening.

Melfort hosted its annual awards banquet to honour and recognize the contributions of their players, so far this season.

Their captain Ty Thornton took home plenty of hardware, as he was named the team’s MVP, Most Valuable Defenceman, and Top Defensive Defenceman, as well as winning the Kyle Johnson Memorial Award.

Another Mustang who had his name called a lot was Reilley Kotai, who took home the Most Dedicated Player, the Top Scorer, the 3 Star Selection, and the Plus/Minus Award.

Other multiple winners included Nolan Roberts as the Community Involvement recipient, the Hardest Hitter, and the Fan Choice Award.

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Logan Belton also won a pair, as the Most Popular Player and the Dylan Ashe Memorial Scholarship.

Meanwhile, Zac Somers was named the Top Defensive Forward, Madden Mulawka received the Rookie of the Year, Kristian Coombs was honoured with the Hardest Working Player, and Zayden Sadlemyer was the recipient of the Most Spirited Player.

The final award recipients included Owen Nelson for Scholastic Achievement, Logan Keup and Tristin Ziola as the Most Improved Players, Austin Shepherd with the Crunch Award (Most Hits), Zach Turner and Nic Andrusiak for the Joel Dennis Memorial Award, and Andrew Dehaan as the Shawn Mason Unsung Hero.

Following the Stangs’ awards banquet Saturday night, the team had a quick turnaround for a Sunday matinee meeting with the La Ronge Ice Wolves.

A 3 p.m. start, the Blue and Green may have had a bit of an award ceremony hangover, as they trailed 2-0 with five minutes left in the second.

Late goals from Nic Andrusiak and Ashton Hutchinson before time expired, made it 2-2 heading into the final period.

Melfort would take their first lead early in the third, courtesy of Reilley Kotai’s league-leading 36th of the season.

La Ronge later tied it before the Mustangs added a pair in the final nine minutes, including an empty netter from Bryson Aikens to seal it, as Danton Cox had the game-winner in a 5-3 victory.

The win capped off a perfect 3-0 week for the Stangs, who had victories over the Yorkton Terriers and Nipawin Hawks on Wednesday and Friday, respectively.

Now, with just three games remaining before playoffs start, the Blue and Green will see the Ice Wolves again, this Wednesday, at the Northern Lights Palace.

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Ben.Tompkins@pattisonmedia.com

On X @BenTompkins_8