(Submitted photo/Mark Ripley)

By Ben Tompkins

Scoreboard Upgrade

New score clock now installed at Northern Lights Palace

Jul 22, 2025 | 3:36 PM

The Northern Lights Palace in Melfort finally has its new score clock installed.

Although the clock arrived last year, there wasn’t enough time to install it prior to the hockey season beginning and the ice being put in. Therefore, there’s been a bit of anticipation and an excited wait for the new large piece of rink equipment.

“The funny thing is, I wasn’t here last summer, so it wasn’t so much a relief for myself, but I think it’s a relief to the community, for sure. Lots of happy people, I think, and we’ll be able to tell the time this winter,” said Ripley Ford owner, Mark Ripley.

“I think it was pretty low-hanging fruit in the regard that it (the clock) was much needed for the city, so we’re just doing our part. We certainly love the Mustangs, and we think the Palace is part of the history of the community. It’s great just to be able to be part of it, so we’re still pretty humbled to be able to fly Ripley Ford over the city, in the arena. That’s pretty cool.”

Ripley Ford agreed to sponsor the newly bought scoreboard at the beginning of the year, putting up $125,000.

Sharps concerns

Thousands of discarded needles found after two fire department calls in Nipawin

6h ago

BILL 137

'Finally some good news': Battlefords Area Pride welcomes pronoun law appeal decision

7h ago

development

Environment assessment approved for proposed uranium mine

8h ago

Although plans haven’t yet been made official, the hope is to do a big reveal and sponsored game night at the start of the coming Mustangs’ season, to officially celebrate the new technology.

“It looks good and obviously people are gonna know about it and see it, but we’re probably not gonna do a big reveal for a couple of months here, so we’ll organize something with the city and the Mustangs. We’d like to pick one of the first couple of home games of the season, and then we’ll do a good giveaway that night for someone, where they’ll do a contest with something to do with the clock,” Ripley added.

“I think it looks really good, I think that the city is gonna be happy, and the fans are gonna be happy. It’s a nice state-of-the-art clock, we’ll be able to see the scores and the time, so I think that’s great. Again, we’re just humbled by how much the community supports and uses that arena, along with the surrounding areas in the northeast, so for Ripley to be a part of that, it’s truly great for us.”

The original score clock at the Palace had become obsolete, with numerous burnt-out bulbs and parts that were extremely difficult to find.

–

Ben.Tompkins@pattisonmedia.com

On X @BenTompkins_8