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By Mat Barrett

Quest for the Canterra

Mustangs set to open series against Ice Wolves with home ice advantage

Mar 17, 2023 | 9:40 AM

The SJHL Playoffs have finally arrived and excitement has been building for weeks as clubs get set for what is sure to be an exciting month and a half of hockey.

In Melfort, the Mustangs will drop the puck on game one of their series with the La Ronge Ice Wolves on Friday night at the Northern Lights Palace. It’s the four-versus-five matchup and it took until Saturday before home ice advantage was decided. Melfort won their final two games with a stellar pair of games from Mustangs goaltender Joel Favreau, while the Ice Wolves split their final two games to give Melfort the two point edge.

Favreau said their club is ready to roll for round one.

“The group is pretty excited because we know what we’re capable of,” he said.

For Favreau and six other Melfort Mustangs, this playoffs will be their last in the SJHL. After a disappointing first round exit last year, Favreau added that there’s some excitement for his last kick at the can, but also some nerves.

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“Obviously, my Junior career could be over next week, or it could be in two months,” Favreau said. “So, obviously you want to delay that as much as possible.”

The Ice Wolves took the season series over Melfort, winning four of six games. However, the teams are quite close in some important stats from the regular season. Melfort scored five more goals, while La Ronge allowed just two less over the course of 56 games. Their penalty kills were also nearly identical, seperated by just 0.2 per-cent. La Ronge also won just one more game, but Melfort earned more points with the help of a few overtime losses.

After meeting six times in the regular season, including three times in the last few weeks, it’s sure to be an emotional series. Especially with the storylines that flow through the series. Ice Wolves assistant coach Kyle Schneider, and trainer Parker Fofonoff are both Mustang alumni, while forward Trenton Curtis and Liam McInnis wore the Mustangs uniform as recently as this season. Tye Evans on the Mustangs side is a former Ice Wolf, as is Boston Maxwell who played for La Ronge a few years ago.

With all this familiarity, Favreau said it’ll be an exciting matchup.

“Be ready to bring it every night, they’re definitely not going to be an easy out,” he said. “So, yeah, it’ll be fun.”

Game time for Games one and two at the Palace on Friday and Saturday are at 7:30 p.m. and you can catch all the action on 105 CJVR.

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matbarrett@melfortmustangs.com

On Twitter: @matbarrett6