(Photo courtesy/Broad Leaf Media, Facebook)

By Ben Tompkins

Chance to go out on top

Mustangs 20-year-olds understand what’s at stake

Apr 25, 2024 | 4:00 PM

The Melfort Mustangs are now one win away from an SJHL Championship, which means a handful of their players have a great opportunity to end their Junior A hockey careers on the best possible note.

This current Mustangs squad has eight 2003-born players, including Clay Sleeva, Aidyn Hutchinson, Ryan Duguay, Leith Olafson, Chase Friedt-Mohr, Logan Cox, and Tye Evans.

All have been extremely important during the current playoff run, and as Sleeva explained, it’s easy to leave it all out there, especially when any game could be your last.

“When it comes down to playing what could be your last SJHL game, you never know when your last one is going to be, so I think when you have the opportunity to play, you have to play your best and show everyone what you can do,” he told northeastNOW.

It also seems fitting that this particular finals is against the two best teams, at least according to the regular season.

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As if a first championship appearance wasn’t enough for this group of eight, it’s one everyone seemed to want all year long.

“I think it’s pretty exciting for everyone facing the best, it’s a fun battle of one versus two and I think that’s what it always comes down to. There’s a reason you work so hard to endure the regular season, you want to get one of the top two spots so you can meet in the finals,” added Sleeva.

“I never thought as a 20-year-old I’d be in the finals trying to host the championship or Canterra Seeds Cup, it’s a dream come true and hopefully we could pull it out because it’d obviously be a nice to finish my career off.”

The expectation for this team has always been a championship, and now with just one win needed in their next four tries, those expectations are amplified.

Especially when it’s the last kick at the can, the want becomes three to four to maybe even five seasons in the making.

“To win it, that’d be a dream, to pull it out and do it at home or even on the road, I think that’s my goal, so we’ll see how it goes,” Sleeva said.

Of course, it takes more than just a group of 20-year-olds to win, as the Blue and Green have shown their depth at every single turn.

Sleeva referenced that depth as important, as those guys need to want to win it as much as anyone else, as he was also in the rookie’s shoes, once upon a time.

“As a rookie down in Yorkton, I remember my veterans saying to play for the 20s because I would be in that same spot one day. I always thought they were crazy when they said how fast it would go by, but I’m in that seat now and I can’t believe it,” concluded Sleeva.

“I’m just hoping the rookies will play for us because we’ll play for them and their careers. This is our last crack at it, so hopefully everyone realizes this is our last chance and we’ll continue to play together as a team.”

Game 4 is tonight at the Northern Lights Palace in Melfort, as the Mustangs could very well be hosting their first league title trophy since 2016.

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Ben.Tompkins@pattisonmedia.com

On X @BenTompkins_8