Ethan Reginer (Right), Zack Smith (Middle), and Alex Moar (Right) are set to join the Mustangs in the coming week or so. (submitted photos/Chris Mast, Keith Herschmiller Photography, Ed Fonger)

By Mat Barrett

Mustangs Add WHLers

Mustangs add trio of WHLers prior to preseason play

Oct 23, 2020 | 5:20 PM

The Melfort Mustangs are getting an injection of talent as the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) season nears.

With the Western Hockey League (WHL) announcing they are not starting play this season until January 2021, the two leagues have agreed to allowed WHL players to join the league and return to the WHL after Christmas, if they so choose.

For Melfort, they have added forwards Zack Smith and Ethan Regnier, as well as defenceman Alex Moar. Normally, there are some players who come from the WHL after getting cut to join the SJHL, but with the extreme circumstances of the season, there’s going to be a few more joining the SJHL for the first bit of the season.

“There’s going to be a fine line and a balance with all of this,” said Mustangs Head Coach and General Manager Trevor Blevins. “That we don’t sacrifice ice time for players that will be here for sure after Christmas. We feel that we can do that, and not jeopardize our development for this season, but also next season and years down the road.”

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Blevins added the addition not only helps the team, but helps the players develop while the WHL waits to begin play. Due to COVID-19, rosters are also expanded to 26 instead of the usual 23 for this season, leaving a few spots open.

“We have the room, and we can help them along,” Blevins told northeastNOW. “And hopefully, maybe down the road they become Melfort Mustangs down the road again because of the opportunity we gave them.”

As for the players themselves, Zack Smith might be the most familiar of the three to Mustangs fans. Smith, from Martensville, Sask. first appeared with Melfort in the 2017/2018 SJHL season as a call up, playing in two games. He joined the Mustangs full-time in 2018/2019 as a 17-year-old, and was part of their run to the SJHL finals, scoring nine goals and adding 12 assists in 55 regular season games. He added one assist in 16 playoff games. The 2001-born forward then exploded in Melfort to start the 2019/2020 season, scoring six times and adding eight assists in 15 games before being signed by the Regina Pats and joining the WHL club for the remainder of the season. Smith fit right in with the Pats, scoring 12 goals and adding seven assists in 51 games for a rebuilding Regina squad. Smith is also a former Tisdale Trojan — a team he spent two years with as a 15, and 16-year-old in U18 hockey.

Ethan Regnier also joins the Mustangs for the first time in his career. The 2000-born forward is heading into his final year of Junior hockey and is a former first round SJHL Draft pick of the Mustangs in 2015, going 12th overall. After spending two seasons of U18 AAA with the Swift Current Legionnaires, Regnier joined the Swift Current Broncos in the WHL. The Prince Albert native spent two-and-a-half seasons in Swift Current, and helped the club to a WHL Championship and Memorial Cup appearance in 2017/2018. Regnier was named an assistant captain in 2018/2019 before being named captain the next season. He was then traded to Everitt part way through the season as Everitt was looking to make a playoff run. In total, Regnier has played 184 WHL games, scoring 26 goals and posting 42 assists. He’s also played in three playoff games.

On the blue line, Alex Moar adds to an already deep defence group for Melfort. Moar is a former first round SJHL draft pick by the La Ronge Ice Wolves in the 2016 draft, going sixth overall. He spent two seasons playing for his hometown Prince Albert Mintos in U18 AAA before joining the Everitt Silvertips in 2018/2019. He played four games for the Silvertips before being traded to the Swift Current Broncos. He’s since played 92 WHL games with the Broncos, and has four goals to go along with 23 assists.

Blevins said there is a chance that one or more of the WHLers stick around past Christmas time, but for now, the trio will easily fit with the club.

“They’re going to fit in just fine,” _{-Trevor Blevins}

“They’re going to be pretty dynamic players,” he said. “There’s a reason they’re in the WHL and have had successful careers there so far.”

The plan for Smith, Regnier, and Moar is to get negative COVID-19 tests, as per league policy, and join the Mustangs next week. Blevins hopes to get them in to exhibition play.

Melfort opens its exhibition season against the Nipawin Hawks on Friday, Oct. 23 at Centennial Arena in Nipawin before coming to Melfort on Saturday, Oct. 24 for another contest against their rival Hawks. The two will do another home and home on Oct. 30 and 31.

There’s still no official word on an SJHL regular season start date.

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mat.barrett@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @matbarrett6