(Mat Barrett/Melfort Mustangs)

By Mat Barrett

Astonishing Ashe

Ashe plays hero as Mustangs down Red Wings in Weyburn

Jan 28, 2023 | 9:35 AM

The Melfort Mustangs got their first road win in three tries on Friday night in Weyburn as they defeated the Red Wings 4-3.

It was the Mustangs second straight win, and first on the road since January 7.

The Mustangs got a solid start in the hockey game, earning the first few shots on goal. They’d also open the scoring as Aidan Wildeman’s second of the year squeaked through the arm of Dazza Mitchell. Weyburn would respond though just a few minutes later as Jakob Kalin notched his 18th of the season, making it 1-1 through one.

In the second, the tides turned a bit to the Red Wings side as they took some momentum, including scoring a shorthanded goal halfway through the second period to make it 2-1 Wings.

With the Mustangs recent history on the road, heading into the third period, some Mustangs fans might have felt a little nervous, but the Mustangs weren’t going down without a fight.

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“Third period, we got our feet going again, started taking some body and putting pucks towards the net,” said Mustangs Assistant Coach Dan Meyers. “And good things happen when you do those things.”

In the third, the Mustangs took over momentum as Leith Olafson broke a seven-game pointless streak with a goal with about nine minutes to play in the third to tie things up. Then, less than a minute-and-a-half later, Dawson Leroux’s 20th goal of the year made it 3-2 Mustangs.

The Wings would tie it with a minute to play in the third, forcing overtime. And in overtime, the puck was swung around the Red Wings zone and found Riley Ashe who found the right spot and fired home the dagger for the Mustangs to win 4-3.

Meyers said seeing Ashe’s mental fortitude to have the patience and calm in overtime to win it is outstanding.

“For his age, yeah, he’s got good confidence and it’s good to see,” he said.

Melfort will now get set for a Saturday night tilt with the Humboldt Broncos at the Northern Lights Palace. Meyers said it’s a big game on the schedule with the teams separated by just four points.

“It’s going to be a physical game,” he said. “It’s a pretty good rival already, so it’s going to be a lot of fun.”

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matbarrett@melfortmustangs.com

On Twitter: @matbarrett6