The SJHL finals are over and the Melfort Mustangs have been crowned back-to-back Canalta Cup champions. They will now be moving to Estevan for the Western Canada Cup.
The Mustangs and the Flin Flon Bombers exchanged blows all series long. To set the stage, the Nipawin Hawks took the Mustangs to the brink in seven games before coming out on the wrong end of a 5-4 tilt, and the Bombers punched their ticket to the Canalta Cup finals after edging out the Battlefords North Stars in five games.
It was a high-scoring affair right from the opening game of the series as Melfort brought home the trophy for the second straight season. Flin Flon drew first blood with a 6-3 win on the back of Joel Kocur, who had been tremendous this playoffs. Kocur acted as a catalyst to the Bombers offence while notching a hat trick and an assist. His linemates, Alex Smith and Brandon Switzer combined for four helpers.
Kocur continued his fantastic play in game two, but this time it was the Mustangs offence that couldn’t be stifled, winning 7-4 and drawing even in the series. His two goals wouldn’t be enough as leading scorer in the SJHL, Travis Mayan, scored his eighth and ninth of the playoffs.
Mayan was up to much of the same in game three, but adding two more tallies was the only offence Melfort could muster, falling 4-2. Brenden Newton, who had been a story to follow this playoffs, came up with a 34-save performance and the win for the Bombers. For those who don’t remember, the rookie netminder took over goaltending duties after starter Zac Robidoux faltered out of the gates, and gave the Bombers a 2-1 series advantage. Down the stretch, the goalies exchanged starts, going with the “hot hand” approach.
The defending champs came roaring back the next three games with a dominant effort to take the championship. First, it was a 5-1 victory with netminder Richard Palmer back in the crease for Melfort. Palmer, one of the better goaltenders in the league, injured himself during warm ups in game one of the playoffs but was well enough to give it a go in the Canalta Cup finals, and showed up by stopping 42 of 43 shots. Palmer came back with 34 saves in a 3-2, double overtime win in game five, giving the Mustangs two unanswered wins and a shot at the Cup.
In the deciding game six, Palmer stole the show once again. The Bombers pelted the Mustangs netminder with 47 shots and he was perfect for all except one, en route to a 2-1 victory. In what was a microcosm of the Bombers season, top scorer Smith was the only one to beat Palmer, while Kocur and Switzer registered the assist. Smith will now be moving on to play Michigan Tech for their division one club.
On the other side, Mayan continued to impress, opening the scoring for Melfort on the power play with his 12th of the postseason. Wyatt Hinson scored the eventual game winner with three minutes left in the third period.
If you’re a fan of Battlefords hockey, there was still plenty of players to look out for in this series. Braden Lacoursiere played with the Battlefords North Stars from 2012 to 2014. The defenceman suited up in just three games in his rookie season, but followed that up with 39 games played the next season with two goals and four assists, before being traded to Flin Flon.
Of course, Rylan Freed is another player who donned the black and white jersey just this year. Freed began his SJHL career with the Mustangs, playing three games with them ahead of the North Stars picking him up. He then suited up for 10 games with the Battlefords, tallying one goal and five assists. Melfort claimed him once again in a trade midway through the year, playing 34 games, tallying 21 points. The forward has also registered four points in 12 games this playoffs.
Ashton Clarke of Melfort and Tyson Empey of the Bombers are former AAA Stars players, and have found success in the playoffs. Empey has been one of Flin Flon’s more reliable players this year, finding himself on the power play unit and contributing on a nightly basis. He finished the playoffs with five goals and six assists. Brandon Lesko of the Bombers also had a brief stint with the midget team.
