By Mat Barrett

Melfort Mustangs

Mustangs: Captain commits, award nominees, game on Saturday

Feb 15, 2019 | 3:00 PM

Captain Carson Commits

The captain of the Melfort Mustangs has decided on a post-secondary destination for hockey and education.

20-year-old forward, Carson Albrecht, has committed to play hockey for the University of North Dakota in the NCAA for next year. The Fighting Hawks have won a total of eight national titles (tied for second most all-time), and Albrecht said the decision to go to one of the most prestigious NCAA hockey schools felt right.

“I know they have a really good program,” Albrecht told northeastNOW. “Really successful, and they just have awesome staff, players. I don’t know, it just felt like home there.”

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The Martensville, Sask. native said even though he’s now committed, he still needs to focus on the rest of this year.

“It feels good, but in the end we still have to play this year,” Albrecht said. “Finish off hard hopefully. Hopefully we can win the league. Just worry about that next year, worry about this year.”

Head Coach Trevor Blevins said you can’t deny Albrecht’s production and importance on the ice (28 goals, 46 assists), but it’s his work of the ice that sets him apart.

“He’s in Brunswick Elementary School twice a week,” Blevins said. “He helps with minor hockey. Anytime there’s a job that needs to be done for an organization in town, he puts his hand up. He just does things the right way and he’s going to have a bright future no matter where he is. But, I know the University of North Dakota is getting a real quality person.”

Earlier in the year, Albrecht was named the Mustangs RBC Community Ambassador by the SJHL, and was able to put money forward towards a jersey wall in the Palace honouring some famous Melfort Minor Hockey Alumni (pictured below).

(submitted photo/Jaret Schneider)

This is Albrecht’s third season with the Mustangs. As of Friday, Feb. 15, Albrecht has 53 goals and 70 assists in 138 games during his time in Melfort.

Albrecht, Ball up for SJHL Awards

Not only did Albrecht commit to a University on Friday, he and his line-mate Justin Ball have been nominated for the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey Leagues (SJHL) Yearly Awards.

Albrecht is the Sherwood Division nominee for RBC Player of the Year. He is joined by Cody Spagrud of the Battlefords North Stars out of the Global Ag Risk Solutions Division, and Turner Ripplinger of the Estevan Bruins out of the Viterra Division.

As for Ball, he is also up against Ripplinger, while the Global Ag Risk Solutions Division nominee is Michael Clarke of the Humboldt Broncos.

Blevins said that the nomination is well deserved for both players.

“Both guys are well deserved of the nomination out of our division, and winning the division,” Blevins told northeastNOW. “I obviously feel that, in the league, they’re probably the two best players, game in and game out are the most consistent throughout the SJHL.”

Albrecht said it’s an honour to be nominated, but also had high praise for Ball.

“He’s stepped it up a lot,” Albrecht said. “I mean he’s been good throughout last year and this year. I couldn’t be happier for him. He deserves it.”

Ball and Albrecht are first and third in league scoring respectively. Ball has 49 goals in 50 games, and 91 points, while Albrecht has 74 points in 48 games.

Mustangs preparing for Saturday battle with North Stars

Oh right, the Mustangs still have a game to play this weekend.

On Friday the team will be scoreboard watching the five SJHL games on the schedule. On Saturday, Feb. 16, Melfort is on home ice as they take on the Battlefords North Stars for the second time in 10 days.

Their last meeting at the Northern Lights Palace on Feb. 6 ended in a 5-3 win for the Mustangs.

In the season series, Melfort has won two of three games, but their only loss came in overtime in North Battleford. In the previous three games, Melfort has outscored the North Stars 12-8.

The Mustangs are looking to win their sixth game in a row, and forward George King said it’s the most confident they’ve been since he’s been on the team (Jan. 10).

“It feels awesome to just play the way we can, and kind of be out of that slump where we just felt like everything just wasn’t going out way over and over.” King said. “Now things are just clicking better, and it’s good because it’s going right into playoffs.”

Heading into the weekend, Melfort is 31-15-4-0, good for 66 points and fifth in playoff positioning. They have just eight games left on their schedule.

Main Photo: Carson Albrect, and Justin Ball (middle) celebrate a goal with their teammates earlier in the year. (submitted photo/Broad Leaf Media)

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mat.barrett@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @matbarrett6