The Melfort Mustangs are starting to stand out from the pack in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League standings.
After a 2-1 win over the host Humboldt Broncos Friday night, the Mustangs now have a 4-0 record to start off the 2017-18 season and are in first place in the league standings.
The Battlefords North Stars have yet to lose a game as well, but they haven’t played since a home-and-home series with the Kindersley Klippers last weekend.
Mustangs blueliner Adam Hergott paced the offence with a pair of assists, as he helped to set up goals from Carson Albrecht and Jaxon Joseph.
Goaltender Evan Plotnik turned aside 20 shots, with his only blemish coming on a late second period marker by Broncos forward Logan Schatz.
The Broncos also made a trade prior to Friday’s game as they acquired defenceman Ryan Straschnitzki from the Alberta Junior Hockey League’s Whitecourt Wolverines.
An 18-year-old from Airdrie, Alta., Straschnitzki suited up in three games for the Wolverines this season after putting up 12 points in 34 games last year for the Leduc Oil Kings of the Alberta Midget Hockey League.
Meanwhile, the Klippers earned their first win of the season and knocked off the previously unbeaten Estevan Bruins in a wild 7-5 affair at the West Central Events Centre in Kindersley.
Nikolas Malencia and Cody Hodgson had two goals and an assist in the victory, while Tanner Thompson scored a goal and had two assists.
Blueliner Taylor Derynck found the back of the net and set up a goal for the Klippers, with Will Van Der Sloot rounding out the scoring for the hosts.
The Bruins were led on offence by Hayden Guilderson and Jake Fletcher, who both had three-point evenings, while Isaac Embree and Michael McChesney also scored in the loss.
A three-goal outburst in the third period and a 37 save performance by Jake Anthony made the difference for the Nipawin Hawks as they came away with a 5-1 road triumph over the Flin Flon Bombers.
The Hawks were led on offence by forward Brett Harasymuk, as he scored a goal and dished out two assists.
Jake Tremblay had a goal and an assist in the win, while teammates Josh Laferriere, Zach Cox and Logan Casavant rounded out the scoring for the visitors.
Bombers rookie forward Chrystopher Collin continued his torrid goal scoring pace to start the season as he slotted home his fifth goal in three games in the loss.
The Notre Dame Hounds dominated the Yorkton Terriers for the second time in as many nights as they cruised to a 7-0 win in Yorkton.
Marshall Wilton led the way with a goal and two assists for the Hounds, whose balanced offensive attack saw Chaz Smedsrud, Zach Kosteniuk and Curtis Weibe have a goal and an assist each.
Tim Gould and David Lenzin also scored in the victory, which saw Jacob Standen turn aside all 33 shots he faced.
Finally, Cory Schillo’s overtime heroics gave the Melville Millionaires their first win of the season as they edged out the Weyburn Red Wings by a score of 3-2 at the Horizon Credit Union Centre.
Damian Bentz and Trevor Paradise also scored for the Millionaires, while Mike Eskra and Derick Smith replied for the Red Wings.
Saturday SJHL Schedule
- Estevan vs. Battlefords – 7:30 p.m.
Standings
Olympic Buildings Division
1. Humboldt Broncos – 6 points (3-1)
2. Notre Dame Hounds – 6 points (2-0-1-1)
3. Battlefords North Stars – 4 points (2-0)
4. Kindersley Klippers – 3 points (1-2-1)
Sherwood Division
1. Melfort Mustangs – 8 points (4-0)
2. Flin Flon Bombers – 4 points (2-1)
3. Nipawin Hawks – 3 points (1-1-1)
4. La Ronge Ice Wolves – 0 points (0-3)
Viterra Division
1. Estevan Bruins – 4 points (2-1)
2. Weyburn Red Wings – 3 points (1-1-1)
3. Yorkton Terriers – 3 points (1-2-1)
4. Melville Millionaires – 2 points (1-2)
Scoring Race
1. Colby Brandt (Notre Dame) – 8 points (2 goals and 6 assists)
2. Zach Goberis (Estevan) – 7 points (2 goals and 5 assists)
3. Michael McChesney (Estevan) – 6 points (3 goals and 3 assists)
4. Justin Ball (Melfort) – 6 points (2 goals and 4 assists)
5. Chance Longjohn – 6 points (2 goals and 4 assists)
Goals Against Average Leaders
1. Taryn Kotchorek (Battlefords) – 0.00 (2-0-0)
2. Maxim Sidelnik (Estevan) – 1.00 (1-0-0)
3. Jack Ryan (Notre Dame) – 1.00 (1-0-0)
4. Jake Anthony (Nipawin) – 1.26 (1-0-0)
5. Jacob Standen (Notre Dame) – 1.92 (1-0-1-1)
