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(Ben Tompkins/northeastNOW)
First Losing Streak

Mustangs drop back-to-back for first time all season

Feb 2, 2025 | 5:20 PM

The Melfort Mustangs are now on a losing streak, for the first time this season.

Melfort lost 4-0 to the Flin Flon Bombers on Saturday night, which followed up their 4-1 loss to the Nipawin Hawks the previous Saturday.

Now 32 and 7 on the year, six of those seven losses have come on the road, with their only home loss having happened back on Oct. 4.

With the Bombers win in Flin Flon, the Mustangs now only have a two-point cushion atop the SJHL standings.

Keefe Gruener had a hat trick on the night, which included his league-leading fifth shorthanded tally, breaking a tie with his teammate Ryder Ringor.

Ringor also just so happened to score the other Bomber goal, which came on the powerplay.

Flin Flon was 1-for-7 on the man advantage, while Melfort was 0-for-5, also giving up the shorthanded marker.

Stangs’ netminder Madden Mulawka made his Whitney Forum debut, stopping 30 of the 34 shots that came his way.

Mulawka was the last one to blame on the night, as the first two goals he surrendered were grade-A chances, while the third came off a deflection.

As for the Bombers’ netminder Matthew Kieper, he secured his third shutout of the season with 24 saves, tying him for the league lead with Weyburn Red Wings’ goaltender Angelo Zol and Mustangs’ tendy Kristian Coombs.

Melfort’s best period on the night was the opening one, as they controlled most of the play and outshot Flin Flon 10-3.

After limiting the Bombers to just three shots in the first, equal to the amount of powerplays they had in said opening 20 minutes, the wheels seemed to fall off.

Flin Flon would go on to outshoot the Blue and Green 31-14 in the final 40 minutes, while of course also outscoring them 4-0.

The Stangs will have little time to figure out their recent mistakes, as they have four games this coming week, which will occur in a span of just five days.

Melfort will begin with a make-up game in Yorkton, against the Terriers on Tuesday, before hosting the Weyburn Red Wings on Wednesday.

The Mustangs will then play another home-and-home set with the Nipawin Hawks, on Friday and Saturday.

Tuesday’s game can once again be listened to on 105 CJVR as Ben Tompkins will have the call.

Ben.Tompkins@pattisonmedia.com

On X @BenTompkins_8