By Mat Barrett

Mustangs and Hawks meet again to start 2019 schedules

Jan 4, 2019 | 7:00 AM

The 2019 portion of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) schedule kicks off Friday, Jan. 4 for the Melfort Mustangs and Nipawin Hawks in Nipawin.

Both teams are near the top of the SJHL standings with Melfort sitting on a 24-9-2-0 record, just two points back of the Hawks (25-10-1-1) for the lead in the Sherwood Division, and the overall SJHL standings. 

“I really think progressively our defensive play has gotten better,” Mustangs Head Coach Trevor Blevins told northeastNOW. “And that’s forwards included. You can speak about the defensive play in all three zones. I think with that and our offence, it’s a nice mix right now.”

Melfort has allowed the third least amount of goals (95) in the SJHL, and are tied for the second most goals scored (142). Nipawin has been excellent in the first part of the year as well, allowing the least amount of goals in the league (71).

In the season series, Melfort has won five of the six meetings. However, none of the games have been decided by more than two goals. Blevins said they need to keep doing what they’ve been doing at Centennial Arena.

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“We’ve had success in that rink, and we need to bring that kind of effort again,” Blevins said. “It’s a lot more of a lunch box mentality where you just show up and get the job done, it doesn’t always have to be pretty. We have to bring that attitude, and make sure like always, when you play Nipawin you got to be competitive and you got to be heavy on your sticks and ready to compete.”

The two teams closed out 2018 against each other on Dec. 21 and 22 with the road team taking both games. Even with the nearly two week layoff, Blevins doesn’t expect things to take long to get going.

“I think both teams are going to have to shake a little rust off, but I think it will be short lived,” Blevins said. “I think a lot of it will be physical and competitive and it will be pretty easy to get into the game… There’s nothing better than playing your rivals and they’re always fun. We play them 10 times [throughout the season].”

Things shift to the Northern Lights Palace in Melfort, Sask. on Saturday for the back half of the home and home set. Both games can be heard on CK750 with Winmar Tisdale SJHL Hockey getting underway at 7:15 p.m. on both nights. The rivals won’t meet again until March 1 and 2.