(Photo courtesy/Broad Leaf Media, Facebook)

By Ben Tompkins

Mustangs work horse

From Yorkton’s captain to Melfort’s heart; Clay Sleeva Player Profile

May 17, 2024 | 9:58 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 Clay Sleeva, joining this year’s Mustangs group meant leaving his hometown team, as the captain. It was no easy thing to do, but it was something that Melfort had been trying to orchestrate since right after the first round of playoffs in 2022.

The heart and soul of every team he’s been on, Sleeva fit right into the blue and green immediately and has been one of their most important players down the stretch, producing 57 points in just 42 games.

“We’ve worn the jerseys since and we’ve looked at the trophy, but it still doesn’t feel real. It’s settled in a bit now that we’re here in Oakville and after seeing all the pictures for the hundredth time, you realize you did it and I’m just so proud of the guys,” he told northeastNOW.

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“It’s awesome to be here for Nationals, at the beginning of this year or even my junior career. I never thought that I would’ve been loading up on a plane and heading to Ontario to play hockey in late May. It’s been a year full of ups and downs and I got the opportunity to play for a contender, so I’m just excited to try and finish it off.”

Sleeva came to the ‘Stangs as part of the biggest trade of the season, about a month before the trade deadline.

Before that, he played 148 games with the Yorkton Terriers, less than 50 kilometres south of his hometown of Canora. He put up 88 points with the team.

“My time in Melfort was awesome, the transition was definitely a bit sad, leaving my hometown. I definitely would’ve liked to win one with Yorkton but in the end I made the right decision. Everyone welcomed me in and we got to work right away. The support has been unbelievable and we’ve carried that with us,” added Sleeva.

“It’s a little sad that our SJHL portion is over,” he said. “You practice every day and play day in and day out, and it’s been fun for me. I never thought I’d be able to play in this league, even though I’ve always wanted to, and I’ve enjoyed every second of it.”

Whether it was always being the hardest-working guy on the ice, creating a rush by skating up the entire length of the ice with the puck, whipping out a sick backhanded goal, or working the cycle with Ryan Duguay and Aidyn Hutchinson, Sleeva always did it at 110 per cent and stole the hearts of every Melfort fan along the way.

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

“In your first year, you never think you’ll be in that 20-year-old spot, but it goes by fast. I was fortunate enough to get a chance to play here. It worked out well as I had a much better second half and playoffs, and we just came together and were able to pull it out at home. It was really nice to do in front of friends and family, and the fans,” Sleeva said.

“It was awesome to be a part of this group. All the veteran guys led and it’s by far the best group I’ve ever been a part of. We played for each other…the 19’s and rookies really stepped up, and everyone in the organization invested so much in all of us. I want to thank them for that because I had a lot of fun, and it was just such a special group.”

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Ben.Tompkins@pattisonmedia.com

On X @BenTompkins_8