By Clark Stork

Nipawin edges Mustangs

Hawks edge Mustangs in weekend opener

Oct 2, 2021 | 8:55 AM

The Nipawin Hawks weren’t happy with the victory they obtained Friday night versus the Melfort Mustangs, but the 3-2 shootout decision was a victory, nonetheless.

Heavily outshot, and outplayed, Nipawin managed to open the scoring on a power play at 6:46 when former Mustang Christian Albertson put a rebound past Steven Bacovsky giving the home team the lead.

The Mustangs tied the game in the second period when Damon Byers finally beat Dylan Pacroix in the Nipawin net. The shots were 28-6 in favour of the Mustangs through 40 minutes of play, but the game remain tied.

Seth McCulloch gave Melfort the lead in the third, but Albertson burned his former team again tying the contest at 2-2 with just under two minutes left in regulation. The 20-year-old Saskatoon product said getting a pair of goals against some of his old teammates feels great.

“It definitely does,” he said after the game. “Especially when guys are chirping me on the other team saying a whole bunch of stuff, well there you go.”

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Both clubs had chances in overtime but Lacroix and Bacovsky stood their ground during the five-minute three-on-three period. A shootout was needed where two Hawks scored, Andrew Schaab and Carson Dobson, just one Mustang was able to beat Lacroix giving Nipawin their fourth straight win.

Albertson was quick to credit their goaltender following his 36 save Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League debut.

“He was amazing, he kept us in this multiple times that’s for sure. He stood on his head for us so that’s good to see,” he said.

The Hawks fired just 14 shots on the Melfort net, Bacovsky made 12 stops in the loss.

The rivals will meet again Saturday, this time in Melfort at the Northern Lights Palace. Faceoff is 7:30 p.m. RONA Nipawin Hawks Hockey on CJVR will begin at 7:15 p.m.