Ball riding hot hand with SJHL’s Mustangs
‘Unbelievable’ off-season helps turn ex-Contact from grinder to goal-scorer
Each day, Justin Ball has 200 ways to score more.
The six-foot-one, 195-pound winger takes on a pile of 200 pucks and shoots them on a daily basis. Not any more; not any less.
His work ethic and training are starting to pay dividends.
Known as a grinder in the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League with the Saskatoon Contacts, Ball has discovered a scoring touch with the Melfort Mustangs in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League.
Much to everybody’s surprise, the Saskatoon native is among the league’s scoring leaders with eight points in eight games.
“It’s a good surprise,” says Ball, who played minor hockey in Saskatoon’s Bobcats zone.
“I don’t really think about it. I just go out there and play.”
Ball is taking advantage of some uncanny chemistry between himself and linemates Tanner Zentner and Carson Albrecht, the latter being a native of Warman and fellow former Contact.
“We were all together for the second half of last season and we all work really well together and we’re good buddies off the ice, too,” said Ball. “I think it just translates onto the ice.”
Ball has three goals and five assists through eight games this season with an undefeated Melfort squad. Last season, he recorded eight goals and 10 assists for 18 points in 48 games with the Mustangs.
“Justin, over the course of the summer, had an unbelievable off-season of training,” pointed out Mustangs head coach and GM Trevor Blevins. “He came in great shape and really mentally tough, too, and just confident. It’s been up to him, really. He’s hit the ground running. Not just him, but I think he’d be the first to credit his linemates, too, for his success he’s having personally and as a line. It’s a line I hope is here for this year and hopefully into the future. They’re really a dynamic group.”
The line of Ball, Zentner and Albrecht has combined for 10 goals and 20 points in eight games.
“The chemistry on that line has just continued on from last year,” said Blevins. “They got to play in many situations that first-year players don’t get to play and they took advantage last year.”
In 96 career games with the Contacts, Ball mustered 12 goals and 17 assists for 29 points. What’s been the difference? “I think just confidence,” replied Ball. “Being a second-year player, you get a little more confidence and you get a little more comfortable to do the things you want.
“I just worked a little more on trying to do things out there instead of just going into the corners and working hard. I’ve tried to do a little more with the puck. I worked a lot more on my hands and shots, things that will score goals. “It’s worked out well so far.” Indeed, Ball has helped Melfort become one of the top-ranked junior A teams in Canada thanks to a perfect 8-0 record thus far.
“I’m pretty happy with the team right now,” said Ball, who played in the 2016 Telus Cup with the Contacts along with Mustangs teammates Albrecht and Tyler Heidt.
“We’re playing hard, we’re playing good and we’re playing smart — that’s all you can ask for.”