Tye Scherger - right, alongside Head Coach Trevor Blevins - middle, and forward Brayden Westerlund - left, following the Mustangs Game 6 win over the Flin Flon Bombers to claim the 2024 SJHL Title (Broad Leaf Media/Facebook)

By Ben Tompkins

Hard to replace

What Scherger meant to Mustangs organization during two seasons as assistant coach

Jul 11, 2025 | 12:35 PM

There’s only one downfall of having an organization full of amazing people doing amazing things… it’s hard to keep them together because everyone wants them.

The same can be said for the past two Melfort Mustangs seasons, whether it’s players moving on to the college or university level, or their assistant coach accepting a job in the Western Hockey League.

It was announced last Wednesday that Tye Scherger would be joining the Saskatoon Blades, leaving a lasting legacy in Melfort that he helped build in only two years.

“When something like this happens, it’s mixed emotions. I couldn’t be more proud of him for making that jump to the next level. He deserves it, and he puts the time in and works hard. He’s knowledgeable and he’s definitely been a huge asset to our organization, both on and off the bench. We can’t thank him enough for the contributions he’s made to our team, the organization, and just the overall development of our players,” Melfort head coach and general manager, Trevor Blevins told northeastNOW.

“It’s sad to see him go. He was a big part of our two championship seasons and it’s gonna be tough to fill his shoes. When one door closes, another door opens, though, and we have a good crop of resumes and people that are looking to fill that role, so we’re excited about that too.”

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In Scherger’s 24 months behind the bench, alongside Blevins, the Stangs not only won two SJHL titles (which included a franchise record in regular season wins in year two) but also captured back-to-back silvers at the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) National tournaments.

A two year stretch that hasn’t been rivalled in team history.

“We had a great two years. When Blevs reached out to me originally, I was just super excited to stay in the game and come back to a great community. I stepped in and he gave me some big roles to fill, and we just ran with it. I just want to thank him for trusting me. He’s a great mentor and a great friend. We just built such a great relationship, and I’m definitely gonna miss working with him,” Scherger said.

“I also want to thank the organization for bringing me in and allowing me to start my coaching career, as well as the community. We have the best fans and especially in the playoffs, the Palace was always rocking. Finally, the players, they came to the rink day in and day out, willing to put the work in, trusting the process, and getting better every day. To become a champion, two years in a row, I can’t thank Melfort enough.”

The 24-year-old from Macklin, Sask., will now attempt to replicate the success and energy he brought to the Blue and Green, one step higher in a much bigger market.

According to Blevins, he doesn’t see a world where that won’t happen, as the Blades are getting more than just a good one.

“They’re gonna have a lot of energy in that dressing room, but also knowledge and work ethic, and the relationships he creates with the players. I’m a believer that respect is earned and given, and he’ll definitely do both with them. He’ll be a piece of their staff that’s an integral part of their success… there’s very little recognition in being an assistant coach, so I hope I did a good job of trying to put him at the forefront and recognize him for doing such a great job with our organization,” Blevins continued.

“I honestly expected us to be as successful as we were with him because of the individual and assistant captain I knew when he played for our team. He was a great leader and an intelligent player, which would translate well as a coach. It was a great fit for him, being closely removed from the game, as he understood our culture and what we wanted to express to the players. I knew our organization was going to greatly benefit from his presence, and I know it’ll be the same in Saskatoon.”

Scherger also just spent two years with the Blue and Green as a player, with the first season only lasting five games due to COVID-19.

Whether it was the first 24 months suiting up for the Stangs or the latter 24 months, literally ‘suiting up,’ Scherger learned a lot in his time in the northeast and grew just as much.

“You have to be a leader on and off the ice as a coach. Getting the call from the Blades, it’s unreal, and I’m very excited. I’m going to bring the passion and the energy, and the boys are gonna feed off it. I’m also going to bring that winning experience because I know the type of people and culture that we had in Melfort, and how that translates to success,” Scherger said.

“The biggest thing from being a player and a coach, and learning from Blevs, is being a good person on and off the ice. No matter what you’re doing, you want to represent yourself with high class, and treat yourself as a champion. It’s all about the process, every single day, you want to get better and be the best person, coach, or player you can be. In the end, you can win a championship, as we have the past two years, but the biggest thing with him is just his heart, his character, his drive, and being a good person every single day.”

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Ben.Tompkins@pattisonmedia.com

On X @BenTompkins_8