Zayden Sadlemyer swarmed by his Mustang teammates after scoring the shootout winner (Ben Tompkins/northeastNOW)
Shootout Victory

Mustangs barely avoid collapsing defeat to rival Hawks

Nov 16, 2024 | 7:03 PM

The Melfort Mustangs nearly let Friday night’s game slip away against the Nipawin Hawks.

Melfort had a goal in each of the first two periods to take a 2-0 lead into period three.

They held onto that lead with less than seven minutes to go in the final frame, before the Hawks rallied for three straight goals in just four minutes, to take a 3-2 lead with only two minutes to go.

The Mustangs, however, were able to compose themselves just enough, as Ashton Hutchinson had the game-tying goal, with his team’s net empty, with just 47 seconds remaining on the clock.

“I mean, it’s family weekend, so I think our heads are all over the place, but Blevs (Trevor Blevins) was able to settle us down there, we stuck with it and just finished it out in the shootout thanks to Sads (Zayden Sadlemyer),” said Hutchinson.

“I think it was huge for me to get my first goal in such a big moment, and I think I saved my ass a bit after the blown coverage on their third goal. Thought Blevs might’ve wanted to sit me there, but it was a great team effort and a fun game.”

All that really mattered for the Stangs was the two points, as they’re now back to leading the league in winning percentage, sitting just a single point behind Weyburn for top spots in the SJHL, but with two games in hand.

Now the Blue and Green will hope to wrap up a perfect home week with a victory over the Notre Dame Hounds tonight.

“The win being over our rivals in Nipawin definitely made Friday a little sweeter and we hope to continue that tonight. We just have to be rested up, eat healthy and be ready to get another two points in front of our families,” concluded Hutchinson.

Parent/Billet weekend will finish tonight as more jerseys will be auctioned off during the intermissions, more families will be recognized pregame, and the Calcutta shootout will wrap up the weekend postgame.

Ben.Tompkins@pattisonmedia.com

On X @BenTompkins_8

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