A 20-minute effort was not enough for the Melfort Mustangs as they were routed 7-3 by the Battlefords North Stars in Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League action from Melfort.
The Jan. 24 contest saw the Mustangs play one solid period – the second – where they outshot the North Stars 15-9 and outscored them 3-1.
The game got off to an ugly start for the home side as the North Stars found the back of the net three times in the first period, including once just 2:23 into the contest.
Levi Kleiboer, Chaseton Braid and Cole Johnson all found the back of the net in the first period for the North Stars, and just 1:59 into the second period, Johnson added his second straight goal to put the Mustangs behind 4-0.
That goal seemed to serve as a bit of a wake-up call for the Mustangs as Tristen Elder scored his eighth of the season. Less than three minutes later, Colin Schmidt added his 16th to cut the Mustangs’ deficit to 4-2.
Before the end of the period, Reed Gunville put home his ninth goal to send the game into the second intermission with the Mustangs down just a single goal.
Unfortunately for the home side, they were unable to keep the momentum rolling to start the third as MacGregor Sinclair put the North Stars back in front by two goals just 59 seconds into the final period.
The North Stars added two more goals, just 11 seconds apart as Keith Anderson scored his first of the night and Johnson completed the hat trick to give the North Stars the win.
Evan Plotnik was charged with the loss in the Mustangs goal, allowing seven goals on 24 shots before being lifted in favour of Hunter Arps, who turned aside both shots he faced.
The Mustangs will look to get back in the win column when they travel to Wilcox on Jan. 27 for a showdown with the Notre Dame Hounds.
