Top Teams Tangle in Melville!

Two of the SJHL's top teams went at it in Melville tonight and the game did not disappoint as Melfort squeaked out a 3-2 win over the Millionaires. Kyle Fraser led the way for the Mustangs as he scored the game winner in the third period and added an assist. Jordan Morgan and Taylor Watt also scored for the Mustangs. Donavon Chow, Riley Clark, Matt Hill, Mike Kirby and Tommy Brown all added assists. Shane Stanicky and Dion Campbell, with a short-handed goal, replied for Melville. Jeremie Houde, Levi Lind, and Derek Edwards added assists for Melville. The Mustangs have now won five in a row and went twelve games without losing in regulation. Ilia Ejov improves his record to 10-0-0-1 as he made 29 saves for Melfort. Travis Bosch got the start for Melville and stopped 22 Mustangs shots. The Millionaires fail to gain ground on the second place Red Wings and remain one point ahead of them with a record of 15-6-1-0. The Mustangs improve to 16-7-0-1 and suddenly are only three points back of the league leading Humboldt Broncos. The Broncos do have two games in hand.

In Kindersley, the Flin Flon Bombers woke up from a surprising loss in Battlefords last night and posted a 6-3 win over the Klippers. Pierre - Luc Boucher had two goals and two assists to lead the way for the Bombers. Dennis Kubat added two goals while Scott Day and Barrett Penner chipped in with singles. Jonathan Redlick, Matt Sawa and Ben Ritchie replied for the Klippers. Calvin Bartel had another strong outing for the Bombers as he made 41 saves for the win. Ryan Nieszner was chased from the Klippers net after allowing four goals in the first period. Matt Weninger cleaned up and allowed only one goal on 22 shots the rest of the way. The Klippers missed out on an opportunity to tie the second place Red Wings as they fall to 13-10-0-2. The Bombers improve to 14-9-0-1.

In La Ronge, it was the place to be if you like offense as the Ice Wolves won 6-5 in a shootout over the Nipawin Hawks. Jarrid Dowhay picked up the shootout winner for the Wolves and added two assists. Joseph Cook, normally known for his feistiness, scored twice for the Ice Wolves. Everette Lerner, Jordie Johnston and Adam Moar also scored for La Ronge. Adam Schwark, Keldon Sanderson, Jordan Bourgonje and Torrie Dyck each had a goal and an assist for Nipawin. Blair Toms had the other Hawks goal. Cody Wutzke chipped in with two assists. Brian Kaval made 43 saves to pick up the win. Derek Kleinsteuber, now clearly the number one guy in Nipawin, made 46 saves in the Hawks goal. The Ice Wolves move to 12-12-1-1 with the win. The Hawks are now 10-11-0-2.

Note: Melfort forward Clint Olson, who was having a fantastic season to date, is out six to eight weeks with an injury.

Carter Smith, who on Sunday was still a member of the Yorkton Terriers, scored the game winner for the Red Deer Rebels late in the third period, as they defeated the Edmonton Oil Kings 4-3. Tyler Penny, a Weyburn product, also had an assist for the Rebels.

Tonight's Three Stars:

* Pierre-Luc Boucher - Flin Flon Bombers (4 point night versus Kindersley)
** Ilia Ejov - Melfort Mustangs (29 save performance in Mustangs win over Melville, including a late breakaway save on Dion Campbell)
*** Joseph Cook - La Ronge Ice Wolves (rare two goal game for Ice Wolves goon)

There is only one game on the schedule for Thursday as the Melfort Mustangs continue there mini two game road trip in east central Saskatchewan with a game in Yorkton.

- Brad M.