Mustangs defenceman Zach Turner battles with a Calgary Canucks attacker during Day 1 of Centennial Cup action at the Max Bell Centre in Calgary on May 8, 2025. (Hockey Canada/Facebook)

By Ben Tompkins

Tough Start

Mustangs drop Centennial Cup opener to host Canucks

May 9, 2025 | 9:07 AM

The Melfort Mustangs dropped their opening game at this year’s Centennial Cup on Thursday night.

Melfort fell 3-1 to the host Calgary Canucks, despite scoring just over three minutes into the game.

“I’ll tell you what, you can’t win a game when you play half a game, that’s just a fact. The drive, the want and the compete just weren’t there tonight,” said assistant coach Tye Scherger postgame.

“I’d say (Kristian) Coombs, our goalie, was the only player that wanted it, competed, worked hard, and other than that, everybody’s gonna have to step it up moving forward.”

The Mustangs led early after a powerplay marker by Ashton Hutchinson, however, that was all the offence they could muster.

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The contest was a rematch of last year’s semi-final, which the Stangs won, as Calgary was able to get revenge this time around.

Coombs had 28 saves on 30 shots on the evening (the Canucks’ third goal was an empty netter) and was named the player of the game for the Blue and Green.

Melfort now has an off day on Friday, where they will practice, before returning to action Saturday at noon.

The Mustangs will take on former team member Mathieu Pigeon and the Maritime Hockey League champions, the Edmundston Blizzard.

“We’re just gonna have to make sure we get back to playing Mustang identity and SJHL identity, and if we do that, then we should be just fine,” Scherger added.

“Friday is gonna be a good day, we’re gonna practice, and the boys are gonna do a little sightseeing. The biggest thing is that when we play Edmundston, they’re all about playing fast, so we just have to stop them and play the way we play.”

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Ben.Tompkins@pattisonmedia.com

On X @BenTompkins_8