(Mat Barrett/Melfort Mustangs)

By Mat Barrett

Close Comeback

Mustangs storm back but fall short against North Stars

Feb 5, 2023 | 9:30 AM

The Melfort Mustangs fell behind early but nearly stormed back against the league-leading Battlefords North Stars on Saturday night in North Battleford.

However, while the comeback was on, it fell short as the Mustangs fell 6-4.

Battlefords scored just over a minute into the hockey game, and then added two more before Melfort could get on the board. Steven Kesslering, Alex Izyk, and Kian Bell all scored for the Stars in the first.

For Melfort, Ryan Duguay was able to gain a step on the North Star defender and ripped one home to get Melfort on the board.

Jake Southgate made it 4-1 for Battlefords early in the second period, and while the Mustangs were down by 3, they were only being outshot 26-25 through 40 minutes and had a number of high-danger chances in both periods.

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Wyatt Cook’s eighth of the season made it 4-2 before Bell’s second restored Battlefords three-goal lead.

Melfort would storm back though from 5-2 down as Clarke Huxley and Boston Maxwell would score in the final 4:30 to make it 5-4, but that’s as close as Melfort would get as Tanner Gold notched an empty netter as the dagger.

Mustangs Assistant Coach Dan Meyers said while the score early on didn’t look great, the Mustangs felt like they were right in it the whole game, and they showed it in the third period.

“We just stuck with the process,” Meyers said. “It just shows we can play with this team.”

As the Mustangs stormed back, Meyers said he could see the momentum changing to their side.

“We scared them,” he said. “And they know that we’re here,” he said.

Melfort falls to 23-13-5-2 on the season and sit fifth in the SJHL. They’re in Kindersley on Sunday for game two of the Fouillards Cup against the Klippers.

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matbarrett@melfortmustangs.com

On Twitter: @matbarrett6