Kaleb Binner (#25) following a playoff victory earlier this season (Broad Leaf Media/Facebook)

By Ben Tompkins

Friendly foes

Binner fired up to play best friend in National Final

May 18, 2025 | 5:09 PM

Melfort Mustangs forward Kaleb Binner will play in his second straight National Final Sunday evening, but this time around it’ll be a little different.

First off, Calgary is his hometown, but secondly, he’ll be playing against one of his best friends.

“I think we both understand the job that has to be done and what the stakes are right now, so it’s not too weird. For these next couple of hours, though, I definitely won’t like him one bit,” said Binner.

“I haven’t really seen him yet, this is a big tournament for both of us, and to be able to meet in a national final is really crazy to think about. I haven’t really had a chance to catch up with him, but I shook his hand after game one, and it wasn’t the outcome we wanted, so we’re hoping tonight we get that better outcome, and we’re on the winning side.”

Binner’s friend, Landon Pappas, number four on the Calgary Canucks, and for a long time number four on the Nipawin Hawks as well.

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So, while Pappas wasn’t yet on the Calgary team during last year’s semi-final, it’s not like these two haven’t met plenty of times before, back in the SJHL.

“I’ve played him plenty of times, so I know all what he’s about, and I’m excited, tonight’s gonna be fun,” Binner added.

The two played on the same hockey team way back in their peewee days, which is how they became friends in the first place.

According to Binner, they then had some classes together in school before their hockey careers began to take slightly different paths.

“We still remain super tight, and we’ve kept in touch all along. He’s just a great guy, and that’s why I love him.”

The Mustangs and Canucks, the final Junior A game of the CJHL season, as Binner and Pappas, turn from friends to foes for the next few hours.

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Ben.Tompkins@pattisonmedia.com

On X @BenTompkins_8