The Melfort Mustangs gather around their net after falling in game five of the Canalta Cup Final. (Mat Barrett/northeastNOW Staff)

By Mat Barrett

Melfort Mustangs

‘Pleasure to come to the rink’: Mustangs season ends with Canalta Cup Final loss

Apr 22, 2019 | 1:00 PM

A great season for the Melfort Mustangs in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) has come to a close.

On Friday, April 20, the Mustangs fell 7-2 to the Battlefords North Stars in game five of the Canalta Cup finals, ending the Mustangs playoffs. Head Coach Trevor Blevins said the difference of the series came down to the defensive play.

“I really thought that their complete level in that area was through the charts, and ours wasn’t unfortunately,” Blevins said. “Where it came down to the quality scoring chances I think, and they capitalized, and we just didn’t get enough.”

The Mustangs split the first two games of the series in North Battleford, but fell in games three and four on home ice, including the game four overtime thriller, before falling in game five. Blevins said even with the loss, he’s proud of the team.

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“[Battlefords] has four lines that came at us,” He said. “They worked hard, they really did, and they deserved it. Do I think we deserved to lose in five? No, but it is what it is, I’m very proud of the group though to get this far, whenever you get to the league final, you have to take that.”

The Mustangs and North Stars shake hands after game five. (Aaron Schulze/northeastNOW)

Melfort’s playoff run began with a five game win over the Kindersley Klippers, followed by a six game battle with the Estevan Bruins in the semi-finals. It was the Mustangs third trip to the Canalta Cup Final in five seasons.

The Regular Season

The Mustangs regular season was an excellent one. They finished the year with a record of 37-17-4-0, good for fourth in playoff positioning, and the third best record in the SJHL. They also scored the second most goals in the league, and had the best powerplay. Melfort also added a 10-game-win-streak in November, and an 11-game-stretch in February. Blevins said he is very proud of his group and what they accomplished.

“We battled through a lot of adversity too at times, we had some losing streaks,” Blevins told northeastNOW. “I’m very proud of how they were off the ice too. They were real great in the community of Melfort, good people. As far as I know great at their billets. We never had one complaint all season really.”

(Aaron Schulze/northeastNOW Staff)

The Graduates

#4 – D – Marshall Skapski

Marshall Skapski came to the Mustangs in a trade in early November from the Cowichan Valley Capitals in the British Columbia Hockey League and really fortified the Melfort defensive core. He tallied 13 points in 40 games and blocked plenty of shots for the Mustangs.

#9 – D – Kayle Tosh

Kayle Tosh emerged as one of the best offensive defencemen in the SJHL this season. After putting up 41 points combined in his first two seasons as a Mustangs, he led all SJHL blue-liners with 58 points in 54 games this year. He finishes his Mustang career with 180 games played (regular season and playoffs).

#14 – F – Tanner Zentner

Tanner Zentner made a living in front of the opponents net, and below the goal line as he centered Carson Albrecht and Justin Ball for three seasons. Zentner had 10 goals and 44 assists this year, a career high in both categories. He played in 163 regular season and playoff games in his Mustang career.

#18 – F – George King

A trade deadline acquisition for Head Coach and General Manager Trevor Blevins, George King really solidified the Mustangs top six forwards. After coming over from the Dauphin Kings, the Calgary, Alta native tallied 19 points in 20 games, while forming a scary line with Colin Schmidt and Kenzie Arnold. He scored two goals in the playoffs while battling some injuries.

#20 – F – Carson Albrecht

The Mustangs captain was everything Melfort needed and more. Albrecht won the RBC Player of the Year Award after finishing second in league scoring with 33 goals and 56 assists. He also added 20 points in 16 playoff games. Albrecht will head to the University of North Dakota next season and finishes his Mustang career with 171 games played (regular season and playoffs).

#21 – F – Justin Ball

Justin Ball spent three seasons with the Mustangs, playing 181 regular season and playoff games. He led the league in scoring this season with 54 goals, and 49 assists. Ball also added 23 points in 16 playoff games this season. The Saskatoon native was also named the SJHL’s MVP.

#23 – D – Boedy Donald

The Star City, Sask native formed a stingy defensive pairing with Marshall Skapski partway through the season, and even while putting up career highs in goals, assists, and points (5-14-19), he was still one of the most relied on defencemen on the Mustangs. He finishes his junior career with 281 games played (regular season and playoffs).

#26 – F – Colin Schmidt

Colin Schmidt came to the Melfort Mustangs early in the 2017/2018 season and quickly emerged as an excellent goal scoring option for the Mustangs. After scoring 10 goals in his first junior season with the Camrose Kodiaks in the Alberta Junior Hockey League, Schmidt scored 23 last season, and then 26 in the regular season this year. Over 21 playoff games, he scored seven goals for Melfort.

#47 – F – Dryden Michaud

Dryden Michaud was added to the Mustangs roster early in the season and scored a goal in his first three games. He tallied six points in his 16 games, and unfortunately battled injuries. Michaud came back for the finals and played two games for the Mustangs.

Blevins added “It was a pleasure to come to the rink everyday, it was awesome, it was a great year.”

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mat.barrett@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @matbarrett6