(Photo courtesy/Broad Leaf Media, Facebook)

By Ben Tompkins

Captain of the herd

The undisputed leader; Leith Olafson Player Profile

May 19, 2024 | 8:00 AM

The Melfort Mustangs are 2024 SJHL Champions, which means their nine 20-year-old players have gone out in style.

While they have all turned their attention to the Centennial Cup, their final career SJHL game is one to remember.

For Leith Olafson, he has spent his entire Junior ‘A’ hockey career in Melfort, which has spanned a full three seasons, dating back to 2021.

The guy who immediately seemed destined to become the team’s captain, was an alternate captain in his 19-year-old season, as his leadership qualities continued to grow, earning him the ‘C’ on his chest for this organization’s championship year.

“I don’t know if I’ve still fully realized where we are yet, playing hockey this late in the year is still kind of messing with my brain. We’ve turned our focus to Oakville now and we’re looking to become champions again,” Olafson told northeastNOW.

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“It’s pretty cool to be the captain, especially in a year where you can say all the guys got it done and brought a championship back. I think later in life, that’ll all be something we can look back on.”

Olafson played a combined 184 games in a Mustangs uniform, collecting an impressive 99 points as a defenceman.

A product of Wasa, B.C., he only had Junior ‘B’ experience before arriving but kept building as the years went on, eventually resulting in a title.

“In my first year we lost in the first round, last year we lost in the second round, so this year once we made the finals, we knew we had to and were going to win this thing,” added Olafson.

“Melfort has been a second home of mine ever since I got here, I showed up and got put with a great billet family, we clicked, and it’s been a great experience for me. The fans and the community really rallied behind us this year, which was just so amazing.”

Whether it was being the ambassador for the team and the community, raising the trophy with his team, taking ownership and responsibility for the guys, or just being put in every situation on the ice, Olafson never backed away from the challenge and was always ready for the opportunity.

He is very grateful to be a part of this year’s Mustangs group, alongside his fellow 20-year-old teammates in Ryan Duguay, Clay Sleeva, Aidyn Hutchinson, Chase Friedt-Mohr, Nolan Henderson, Logan Cox, Hayden Prosofsky, and Tye Evans.

“When we had our last practice in Melfort, we all just sat in the stands, looked at everything around us, and reminisced on all the memories of playing here,” Olafson concluded.

“Our 20-year-olds really stepped up this year and took the reins, they were leaders on and off the ice and made sure everyone was dialled in and ready to go for the playoffs. It was just a great group of guys, 20-year-olds, 19-year-olds, 18-year-olds, everyone just clicked and it was the perfect storm for us.”

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Ben.Tompkins@pattisonmedia.com

On X @BenTompkins_8