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By Ben Tompkins

Pregame Rituals

Captain Thornton knows how to get his team fired up

May 18, 2025 | 5:00 PM

The Melfort Mustangs are led by Captain Ty Thornton whenever they take the ice.

Even right before they take the ice, though, Thornton always makes sure the boys are ready to go.

“It happens right after one of the songs we listen to in warm-up, Shepherd looks at me, and he pretends to call me, and he tells me to ask if the boys are fired up, and then I do my thing,” Thornton told northeastNOW.

“I just yell, are the boys fired up, are the boys fired up, and they say no every time, so then I just say, if the boys aren’t fired up, you’ve got to get them fired up, and then everyone kind of goes crazy.”

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According to Thornton, this particular pregame ritual actually began last season, so he’s been doing it for almost two years now.

The idea apparently just came to him, so one day he tried it, and the boys have loved it ever since.

“Just kind of stuck with, and it’s kind of a pre-game thing that we do now… I have to be honest, I think it really works. I think it gets the boys going, and I know they look forward to it every time.”

Let’s hope it gets them going this evening, as the biggest game of the season, and potentially team history, begins at 5 p.m.

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Ben.Tompkins@pattisonmedia.com

On X @BenTompkins_8