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By Ben Tompkins

Win and they're done

Mustangs hold opportunity to eliminate Ice Wolves from playoff contention

Mar 12, 2025 | 2:27 PM

With a victory on Wednesday night at home against the La Ronge Ice Wolves, the Melfort Mustangs would lock in their first-round playoff matchup.

La Ronge is currently five points back of the Kindersley Klippers for eighth place in the SJHL standings, with just three games left on their schedule.

If they don’t secure a point this evening, they will officially be eliminated from playoff contention and the number-one-seeded Mustangs will be destined for a date with the Klippers.

“It’s always great to end someone else’s season,” said Melfort defenceman Nolan Roberts. “We’re playing for everyone inside our room right now, and obviously it’s great to be able to secure the playoff picture as early as we can, but it’s not really something we think about that much. We’re just playing for ourselves right now and everyone inside of our own room.”

Along with the possibility of eliminating the Wolves from playoff contention, the Stangs could also earn a perfect sweep with a win tonight.

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The Blue and Green are 7 and 0 in this particular matchup, outscoring their opponent 35-16.

“That’d be nice too,” Roberts added. “Again, it’s not something we think about all the time, we just take it game by game, but to beat those guys eight ties in a year, there’s not really anything I could think of that would be much better. We don’t like them, so it’d be great to hold that over their heads.”

The Mustangs are coming off a perfect 3 and 0 week, which included a 5-3 victory over La Ronge on Sunday, as they continued to play their top guys, despite already securing first place.

After Wednesday’s contest, they have just two games remaining, both of which come this weekend against a struggling Notre Dame Hounds team which has lost 18 in a row.

In all likelihood, players may see a little more rest in that matchup, however, for now, it’s about staying consistent, not allowing rust to set in, and carrying a winning mentality into the postseason.

“I think we’ll just go based on how the guys are feeling and really wait for the day of to bring the best lineup we can roster that day and try and get guys ready for playoffs,” Roberts concluded.

“We’ve had a great year so far and we want to keep that winning mentality. Rest will just be based on who needs it, and if you’re good to go, you’re good to go. We’re gonna see what these last three games bring for us, but we’re gonna try and do the best we can, and whoever’s ready to go is gonna go.”

Puck drop between Melfort and La Ronge is set for 7:30 p.m. from the Northern Lights Palace.

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Ben.Tompkins@pattisonmedia.com

On X @BenTompkins_8