Mustangs begin season at home against rival hawks

The Hawks not only got the best of the Stangs on opening night last season, but also throughout the campaign as a whole, winning the season series 7-1.

The Blue and Green have fared much better this year, however, winning both of the club’s two preseason matches earlier last week.

“I think we learned a lot from those exhibition games; they play hard, and they’re gonna be a good team again this year, but I like our group of guys, and we’re going to be studying some game film on them, and then coming out even harder,” McHarg added.

“Our keys to success are just a lot about our work ethic; we just want to make sure everyone’s going hard all the time. We move the puck well, and we had good chemistry throughout the preseason, so I think we’re going to take all of that into tonight’s game, and if we do, then we’ll do well.”

Melfort will be led this year by their recently announced leadership group, which features captain Tristin Ziola, along with assistant captains Darren Hunt, Luke Mackenzie, and Dru Mushumanski.

Head Coach and General Manager Trevor Blevins had strong words about each of the four and what they bring to the table both on and off the ice.

Ziola ‘C’

“He kind of typifies what a captain should be; his leadership, his work ethic, how he is as a person, and how he treats others is phenomenal in all aspects. We thank him for his loyalty over the last three years and all he’s done for this organization; so for us it was a no-brainer, and it’s well deserved.”

Mackenzie ‘A’

“He came in late last year and was an instant glue guy with our team. He is very well respected in the room, but also brings a lot of energy to the team. A very well-spoken individual who brings a lot of intangibles to our culture that are very important.”

Mushumanski ‘A’

“A very dynamic player whose game has grown. We’ve seen him grow as a person, also, and that’s what’s most exciting about him. He is very coachable, and for us in our dressing room we want him to have that leadership role because it’s well deserved. He brings a lot of connection to our team, he’s done a lot with our group off the ice, and he’s kind of the social butterfly, which has been huge for our chemistry early on, within our culture.”

Hunt ‘A’

“We brought him in at the trade deadline last year and he really adapted well. He came in and was an immediate impact player for us who helped us improve on the backend. Just a solid individual in all regards who’s very respectful, and rings a quiet demeanor to the team. He’s going to be a lead by example guy for our team which is super important for us. His actions speak louder than words and he’s a calming presence on our blueline.”

Puck drop between the Mustangs and Hawks is set for about 7:40 p.m., with the pregame show beginning at 7:20 p.m. on 105CJVR.

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Ben.Tompkins@pattisonmedia.com

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by Ben Tompkins

Mustangs begin season at home against rival hawks

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