(Submitted photo/Melfort Mustangs)

By Ben Tompkins

Out West

Mustangs to face Klippers for pair of weekend games

Oct 13, 2023 | 10:52 AM

For the only time this season, barring a potential run-in during this year’s playoffs, the Melfort Mustangs will back their bags for Kindersley, as they visit the home of the Klippers.

The Mustangs only play the Klippers four times during any given year (twice at home and twice on the road), as both away contests will be played this weekend.

The action begins Friday night at 7:30 p.m. at the West Central Events Centre, before a rematch occurs on Saturday, same place and time.

Melfort has already played Kindersley (2-3-0-1) once this season, back on Sept. 30, when they claimed a 5-3 victory.

“They have pretty much the same team they had last year and they’re a good group of guys, so it’s always gonna be a battle against them and we just got to put our best foot forward every night against them,” said Stangs’ forward, Ryan Duguay.

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“We would like to take it one game at a time because it’s not always gonna go your way, so just focusing on now and hopefully, we can get the result we want and then move on to the next game.”

Duguay has been the club’s best scoring threat so far this year, registering a goal in every game he’s played, which has given him a five-game goal streak.

Part of the so-far unbeaten group’s success, as well as his own according to Duguay, has been courtesy of his linemates and the fact that they’ve outshot their opponents every single time.

“My linemates have been helping me out a lot, giving me the puck at good times, and I’ve been shooting more and it’s been going in for me, so it’s been good for sure,” he explained.

“Getting pucks on net is important, wearing down their goalie and you never know what’s gonna go in, so we like to get everything we can to the net and crash the net, and it’s been working for us.”

Despite being a perfect 6 and 0, Melfort is currently second in the SJHL standings, three points behind the Flin Flon Bombers, however, with two games in hand.

This weekend’s trip will also mark the opportunity for the Mustangs to regain first place, as well as their first overnight stay of the regular season.

“It’s harder to win at the end of the season, so to get our wins in early is good, we know that we’re not going to win every night, but we want to keep the streak going on as long as we can and pile the wins together,” Duguay told northeastNOW.

“It’s also gonna be our first time this year staying in the hotel, so some bonding will be going on. It’s always exciting and fun going on the road, so we’re looking forward to it.”

Both matches this weekend can be heard on 105 CJVR as Ben Tompkins has the call, with the pre-game shows beginning at 7:15 p.m.

Additional notes:

The Melfort Mustangs have traded away 2004-born forward, Jacob Hufty to the La Ronge Ice Wolves, in exchange for a player development fee.

In 18 combined games with the organization between the 2022/23 and 2023/24 seasons, the Kamloops, B.C. product registered eight points (four goals and four assists).

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Ben.Tompkins@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter @BenTompkins_8