By Mat Barrett/CJVR

Ball Extends Streak, Mustangs Make it Five in a Row

Nov 15, 2018 | 2:25 PM

Another big win for the Melfort Mustangs in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League on Wednesday night.

The Mustangs downed the Kindersley Klippers on Nov. 14, by a score of 3-1 to make it five wins in a row for the Mustangs. It was the second time in a week the teams saw each other. Melfort came out on top in the meeting on Nov. 7, 3-2.

Melfort got out to the lead early when Justin Ball scored a pretty breakaway goal, beating Klipper netminder Justin Close for his 20th goal of the season. Not long after, Ball fed the same guy that fed him, Jake Hobson. Hobson fired a one timer from the point and beat Close as the Mustangs led 2-0, just 12 minutes in.

For Ball, his goal and assist extend his point streak to 20 games. He’s tallied 33 points over that span (17 goals, 16 assists). Assistant Coach of the Mustangs Dan Meyers said Balls streak is phenomenal.

“He’s a beauty,” Meyers said. “There’s a guy that works hard all the time out there. He has an amazing shot, he’s great in the room, a great leader. Just an all-around a great player, great person.”

First meeting

Interest piqued after Melfort Neighbourhood Watch program info meeting

7h ago

Wasted fish

Fish abandoned at Deschambault Lake

Apr 23, 2024

Leadership Needed to Stop Federal Overreach

Apr 23, 2024

Things stayed 2-0 through the second period as the teams went back and forth, with Mustang goaltender, Hunter Arps standing tall as the 2017 SJHL Goaltender of the Year was standing across the ice from him doing just the same. Arps stopped 18 shots through 40 minutes, while Close stopped 21 of 23.

Kindersley scored early in the third period — one minute in to be exact, when Will van der Sloot scored his third goal on the season. The Klippers would continue to pepper Hunter Arps, to the tune of 11 shots in the period. Meyers said they didn’t seem as aggressive in the third frame.

“It seemed like we backed off a little bit,” Meyers said. “Kind of protected the lead a little bit, but [Arps] stood strong back there and tonight we had all 20 guys going which was great to see.”

Carson Albrecht would add an empty netter to seal the deal with less than a minute to play in the game. The win moves Melfort to 15-6-1-0 on the SJHL season, and into a tie with Nipawin for first place in the Sherwood Division. Next action for the Mustangs is Saturday, Nov. 17 as the La Ronge Ice Wolves pay a visit to Melfort.