It took a shootout, but the Melfort Mustangs kept their perfect record intact Friday night.
The early pacesetters in the SJHL improved to 7-0 for the 2017-18 campaign as Justin Ball and Colin Schmidt both scored in the skills competition to give the Mustangs a 3-2 win over the host Nipawin Hawks.
Taylor Schmidt and Loch Morrison both lit the limp for the Mustangs in regulation, while Evan Plotnik made 34 saves over the course of 65 minutes and then stymied both Keillan Olson and Caleb Paisley in the shootout.
Bryson Cecconi and Michael Grant each found the back of the net for the hosts, who received a 23-save performance from Jake Anthony.
The Hawks also announced following the game that forward Brandan Arnold and goaltender Declan Hobbs would both be returning to the team after they each tried to crack the rosters of the Western Hockey League’s Swift Current Broncos and Spokane Chiefs respectively.
The Estevan Bruins turned in yet another dominating offensive performance on their home ice as they cruised to an 8-1 triumph over the Yorkton Terriers.
The Bruins, who have scored 40 goals in their first seven games, were led up front by Kaelan Holt as he scored a goal and had three assists.
Captain Jake Fletcher had two goals and an assist in the triumph, while Nolan Ferguson, Zach Goberis, Michael McChesney and Andrew Warhoftig had a goal and an assist each.
Tanner McKechnie rounded out the scoring for the Bruins and Chantz Petruic had the lone goal for the Terriers.
Rounding out Friday’s action, the Flin Flon Bombers kept pace with the Hawks and the Mustangs in the Sherwood Division standings as they picked a 5-2 victory over the Melville Millionaires at the Whitney Forum.
Caleb Moretz and Ethan Daniels had a goal and assist for the Bombers, while Brody Madarash dished out a pair of helpers.
Daylan Marchi, Chrystopher Collin and Dawson McKenzie had the other goals in the victory.
Peter Michailides and Ethan Kopyczyn both scored for the Millionaires.
Saturday SJHL Schedule
- Melville vs. Flin Flon – 6:30 p.m.
- Notre Dame vs. Melfort – 7:30 p.m.
- Estevan vs. Yorkton – 7:30 p.m.
Standings
Olympic Buildings Division
1. Battlefords North Stars – 9 points (4-0-1)
2. Humboldt Broncos – 8 points (4-2)
3. Notre Dame Hounds – 8 points (3-1-1-1)
4. Kindersley Klippers – 5 points (2-3-1)
Sherwood Division
1. Melfort Mustangs – 14 points (7-0)
2. Flin Flon Bombers – 8 points (3-1-0-2)
3. Nipawin Hawks – 8 points (3-1-1-1)
4. La Ronge Ice Wolves – 2 points (1-4)
Viterra Division
1. Estevan Bruins – 8 points (5-2)
2. Weyburn Red Wings – 5 points (2-2-1)
3. Melville Millionaires – 3 points (1-4-0-1)
4. Yorkton Terriers – 3 points (1-5-1)
Scoring Race
1. Zach Goberis (Estevan) – 18 points (8 goals and 10 assists)
2. Layne Young (Battlefords) – 15 points (6 goals and 9 assists)
3. Michael McChesney (Estevan) – 14 points (9 goals and 5 assists)
4. Dakota Huebner (Battlefords) – 10 points (4 goals and 6 assists)
5. Kaelan Holt (Estevan) – 10 points (2 goals and 8 assists)
Goals Against Average Leaders
1. Jack Ryan (Notre Dame) – 1.00 (1-0-0)
2. Evan Plotnik (Melfort) – 1.69 (7-0-0)
3. Jake Anthony (Nipawin) – 1.91 (2-0-0-1)
4. Jacob Wasserman (Humboldt) – 1.96 (2-1-0)
5. Brendan Newton (Flin Flon) – 1.97 (3-1-0-2)
