Parker Fofonoff played in 56 of 58 regular season games in his 17-year-old season with Melfort. (Facebook/Broad Leaf Media)

By Mat Barrett

Mustangs Off-Season

Mustangs complete futures deal with Dauphin Kings

Jul 2, 2019 | 4:54 PM

The Melfort Mustangs have completed a futures trade from the trade deadline on January 10.

The deal initially brought 20-year-old forward George King to Melfort from the Dauphin Kings in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL), in exchange for “Futures”. The Mustangs had to give up a piece or pieces after the season and it was announced on Tuesday, July 2 that the pieces heading to Dauphin would be 2001-born forward, and Tisdale native, Parker Fofonoff along with 2000-born forward Braeden Young. Mustangs Head Coach Trevor Blevins said bringing in King was something they needed to do.

“It put us in a position to get a player that was a difference maker in the moment when we had a chance to make a run,” Blevins said. “And we did that.”

King tallied nine goals and 10 assists over 20 games after the trade. Injuries did hamper King in the playoffs where he only scored twice in 11 games as the Mustangs made it to the finals.

Blevins said seeing players leave in trades is always difficult, calling it “a tough day.”

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“When things get cleared up as part of those futures, it’s tough to do,” he said. “Parker and Braeden are very, very good hockey players, but even better people.”

Blevins added that a situation like this is a feather in the cap of the players because they were picked by another team.

“They’re recognized as good players,” Blevins told northeastNOW. “Not only in our league, but in the Manitoba league.”

Fofonoff was in his 17-year old season and played in 56 games with the Mustangs, scoring seven goals and adding eight assists. He would play in six playoff games, and was held pointless. Fofonoff was originally a third round draft pick of the Mustangs in 2016.

Young came to Melfort from the Junior B ranks in British Columbia and tallied four goals and three assists for seven points in 41 games. He added three points in 11 playoff games as well.

Braeden Young played in 41 regular season games with Melfort, and 11 playoff games. (Facebook/Broad Leaf Media)

Blevins went on to say that there is another layer to the trade.

“We get to keep the core 20-year-olds together too which is important and to surround them to be competitive,” he said. “And I think that was the main goal here all the way through last season and into this year. We’re very happy with our leadership group and the guys coming back, and we want to try and make some noise again this season.”

As for what is left in the off-season, Blevins said their staff has been very aggressively recruiting and they are happy with what they have coming this season. However, he didn’t rule out the possibility of other moves to come.

“If a situation comes up where we can get a player that can help us this year and make a run, we’re going to do that too,” he said. “Whether it’s over the summer or into the season, we’re going to be constantly evaluating kind of what we need here moving forward.”

The Mustangs begin main camp on Friday, August 30.

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mat.barrett@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @matbarrett6