(Ben Tompkins/northeastNOW)

By Ben Tompkins

One win Away

Mustangs rebound in overtime, take 3-1 series lead

Apr 11, 2024 | 11:13 AM

The Melfort Mustangs got a second chance at overtime in Humboldt on Wednesday night; this time, the hockey gods were on their side.

Just five minutes and 26 seconds in, Rhett Hamilton picked up the puck at centre, before a mutual collision set him free on a partial break, as he buried it high glove over Benjamin Motew for the 4-3 win, pushing the Broncos to the brink.

“Boy does that feel good, the boys played unreal, they came out heavy like I said last night, they did exactly that as they came out flying on all cylinders. In the second we kind of brought it back a bit, but in the third period and overtime we dominated again, so feels way better,” assistant coach Tye Scherger told northeastNOW.

“I kind of had a weird feeling that was going in, he (Hamilton) has been playing unreal these playoffs and his shots and his speed are wicked, he had lots of time and it’s awesome he got the winner, I’m proud of him.”

Despite both teams entering their 10th period in just over 24 hours, there didn’t seem to be a lack of energy for anyone.

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Scherger added he had the boys going right before puck drop, as they wanted redemption and had to leave it all out there, as the next game isn’t until Saturday.

“In my pregame speech I went in there and I got the boys motivated, I said you can’t control anything from game three, if anything it fuels you up for game four, and it motivates you to drive harder, so you forget about that fatigue and you go to work.”

Two of the four Mustangs goals came from their affiliate players, as Owen Nelson scored his first career SJHL goal, while Tristin Ziola got his first career playoff marker.

“The boys found the right areas to shoot on him (Motew), that’s for sure, once we see a couple of them go in the same area, we kind of dial in on that and the boys followed through,” explained Scherger.

“No nerves or anything for them, absolutely phenomenal, I’m proud of them for coming in like that, just ecstatic. They were working hard doing exactly what we said, the fourth line has to finish everything and yet they got two goals, and those are two big goals, so that’s awesome.”

For the second straight series the Blue and Green will have the chance to close it out at home in Game 5, as puck drop from the Northern Lights Palace goes at 7:30 p.m., this Saturday.

“Going back to the palace, come on Melfort, pack the palace and be loud because we’re gonna win it all,” Scherger concluded.

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Ben.Tompkins@pattisonmedia.com

On X @BenTompkins_8