Dylan Ashe (right) returns to Northeast Saskatchewan after being re-assigned to the Melfort Mustangs. (Aaron Schulze/northeastNOW Staff)

By Aaron Schulze

Ashe to the Mustangs

Former Trojans defenceman Dylan Ashe joins the Mustangs

Sep 27, 2019 | 4:34 PM

A former Tisdale Trojan has returned to the northeast.

Dylan Ashe, a 17-year-old defenceman from Warman, joins the Melfort Mustangs for the 2019-20 Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) season after he was re-assigned by the Lethbridge Hurricanes of the Western Hockey League (WHL).

“It feels really good to be home,” Ashe told northeastNOW. “I can visit my family more and they can visit me more often. I’m super excited about everything. We should have a good season.”

Ashe wasn’t selected in the 2017 WHL or SJHL Bantam Draft but was able to get on the radar of Darrell Mann, former head coach of the Trojans.

“Dylan was a little bit of a late bloomer,” Mann said. “As a 15-year-old he came to our camp and had a great showing. We played him in three or four exhibition games, but we weren’t able to keep him on our backend that year to start the season. After the start of the new year we had an injury and he was able to come in and play for us in January, February, and into the playoffs as a 15-year-old, and then as a 16-year-old he really took strides in becoming a top defenceman in the league.”

Twist on a classic

Regina board game designer puts new spin on crokinole

11h ago

Spring in Saskatchewan

Calm, dry weather expected across much of Saskatchewan over Easter weekend

12h ago

Tribute projects

Progress on Humboldt Broncos memorial continues eight years after tragic crash

12h ago

Ashe eventually found himself on the Mustangs’ and Hurricanes’ protected lists. He signed his WHL Standard Player Agreement with the Hurricanes in April 2019.

After taking some time to recover from a broken collarbone at the beginning of the 2018-19 Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League (SMAAAHL) season, Ashe found himself on the Trojans’ shutdown defence pair with captain Luke Arndt. Ashe finished the season with one goal and seven assists in 31 games, with his highest accolade being named player of the game during the Trojans bronze medal win over the Calgary Buffaloes at the 2019 Telus Cup national midget championship.

“He’s a physical player, a great skater, and he likes the physical part of the game,” Mann said. “Trevor Blevins (Mustangs head coach) has a history with defencemen moving up and getting scholarships. I think Trevor will make him even that much better of a defenceman. Whether he stays with the Melfort Mustangs or he gets another opportunity in the WHL, I know he’ll become a better player playing in Melfort.”

Ashe’s pre-season campaign with the Hurricanes ended abruptly due to a sprained rotator cuff, although he said it’s fully recovered and he’s ready to go.

For short-term goals, Ashe said he hopes to develop his puck moving and puck handling skills during his time in Melfort. He said he won’t play much time on the penalty kill to start the season to get him used to the pace of the SJHL.

Ashe is expected to play his first game with the Mustangs this season at Northern Lights Palace on Friday, Sept. 27 against the Notre Dame Hounds.

–

aaron.schulze@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @SchulzePANow