(Melfort Mustangs/Facebook)

By Ben Tompkins

Third times a charm?

Mustangs advance to second straight National Final

May 18, 2025 | 2:07 AM

The Melfort Mustangs are back in the gold medal game at the Centennial Cup.

For the second straight season, the Mustangs will be playing in the National Final, with the hopes of winning the club’s first Canadian Junior A Championship.

“In the first period, we came out the way we wanted to play, hard and heavy, but then in the second, I don’t know what happened, we just got away from our game. The biggest thing, though, is that we were able to go back to the dressing room in the second intermission and flip the switch right away. That’s how we play in that third period, and it was good to squeak one out,” said assistant coach Tye Scherger.

“Unfinished business, the boys are so excited to get another chance, they’re incredibly hungry to win it, and honestly, I wouldn’t want to be a Calgary Canuck on Sunday.”

A 4-3 win over the OJHL champion Trenton Golden Hawks in Saturday’s semi-final has put Melfort in the final for the third time in franchise history.

Fundraiser underway

Nipawin Region Health Foundation kicks off 'Pledge Drive War'

8h ago

fire crews

Type 3 firefighters deployed to La Ronge, mayor optimistic about current wildfire situation

9h ago

Group home officially open

Group home officially opens in Humboldt

9h ago

Now, set to go up against the host Calgary Canucks, for their third meeting in the last year, the hope for the Stangs, who have been shutout twice in the championship game (2-0 in 1996 and 1-0 in 2024) is that the third times a charm.

“Revenge against Calgary from earlier this tournament, and redemption from last year, that’s all it is,” Scherger added.

“We know we’re going to be on TV, but we’re just gonna have to put the noise away and stay focused. It’s the five seconds in front of your face, and the biggest thing is to just play the way we play. We’re gonna have to be extremely good on the defensive side of the puck, we have to be heavy, and we have to capitalize on our opportunities.”

Sunday will mark the third year in a row that an SJHL team has made the Centennial Cup gold medal game, however, the trophy hasn’t been in Saskatchewan since the 2014 Yorkton Terriers brought it home.

–

Ben.Tompkins@pattisonmedia.com

On X @BenTompkins_8