Mustangs take SJHL title with win over Bombers
The Melfort Mustangs are Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League champions for the first time since 2016.
The Mustangs beat the Flin Flon Bombers 4-1 on Tuesday night in Game 6 to win the best-of-seven junior A championship series 4-2.
After a scoreless first period, Tye Evans opened the scoring for Melfort in the second before Justin Lies tied the game for the Bombers early in the third.
Less than a minute later, Aidan Hutchinson scored his 14th goal of the playoffs for the Mustangs to put them on top 2-1.
Clay Sleeva made it 3-1 Mustangs with six minutes left in the third before Hutchinson added an empty netter to seal the victory on home ice.
James Venne made 29 saves in the victory for Melfort, while Harmon Laser-hume made 26 saves in the loss.
Melfort defenceman Chase Friedt-mohr — who recently committed to the University of Regina Cougars men's hockey team — was named playoff MVP after notching 23 points in 18 games to finish second in playoff scoring behind Hutchinson, who had 31 points.
It's the first Canterra Seeds Cup title for Melfort — who finished second in the SJHL this season with a 38-14-4 record — since winning back-to-back in 2015 and 2016.
It's the fifth title in team history since the SJHL was founded in 1968.
For the Bombers — who finished first in the SJHL with a 44-9-3 record during the regular season — it's their third straight second-place finish after losing to the Battlefords Stars last year and Estevan Bruins the year prior.
Flin Flon's one and only league title came in 1993.
The Mustangs will now represent the SJHL at the Centennial Cup, which is set for May 9 to 19 in Oakville, Ont.