(Ben Tompkins/northeastNOW)

By Ben Tompkins

Good Start

Mustangs begin Centennial Cup with win over Miramichi

May 10, 2024 | 10:25 AM

The Melfort Mustangs started their Centennial Cup run this year exactly how they had hoped… with a win over the Miramichi Timberwolves.

Melfort played the third and final game of day one here in Oakville, matching up with the Maritime Junior Hockey League champions and beating them by a score of 4-1.

“Great to come away with a win, especially our first game to get it out of the way. There were definitely some nerves and stuff like that, and then also the Olympic-size ice which guys had to get used to, so it was a bit sloppy but a win is a win and we’ll take it,” explained assistant coach Tye Scherger.

“Started a little slow but we had great chances in the O-zone where we were in there for 30 seconds plus, the puck was moving, we had the five-man cycle going on and that’s just what we got to do. We got to use our speed to our advantage and continue that on for Saturday.”

Aidyn Hutchinson opened the scoring for the Mustangs and they never looked back, as they grabbed multiple three-goal leads on the evening.

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James Venne also stopped 26 of 27 that came his way, with the only one getting by him due to a very fortuitous bounce off the back wall.

“That big ice was good for the offensive side for sure, we kept the puck moving and generated some speed, but in the D-zone, boy oh boy do we need to figure things out, we talk about taking away time and space and we didn’t have that tonight,” Scherger added.

“As far as our top guys go, we expect them to perform and they did just that, scouts are watching them, it’s a big atmosphere in this national final, but I thought all the way through, everyone played well.”

The Stangs will now have a practice off day on Friday, before getting back to it first thing against the Winkler Flyers on Saturday.

Ryan Duguay will be making his return to the lineup for that contest, as he’s now served his two-game suspension, dating back to the SJHL Finals against Flin Flon.

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Ben.Tompkins@pattisonmedia.com

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