It has been nearly eight months since the Melfort Mustangs eliminated the Humboldt Broncos from the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) postseason, but the loss still has a stinging effect for the Broncos.
Tonight, will mark the first time the Broncos will meet the Mustangs since Melfort’s overtime victory in Game 7 of the league semifinals. After their triumph over Humboldt, the Mustangs claimed the Canterra Seeds Cup against the Flin Flon Bombers. Melfort’s run to the Centennial Cup will come to an end in the championship final against the Collingwood Blues.
Broncos defenceman Oakley McIlwain says another shot against the Mustangs has been on the players' minds since the playoff loss.
“Last year was tough losing in Game 7, definitely going to be thinking about that going into the weekend, definitely games marked on the schedule since the beginning of the year and hopefully come out with four points this weekend.”
The Broncos and Mustangs fierce rivalry can be traced back to when Melfort entered the SJHL in 1988. Even though the two squads are no longer in the same division, McIlwain believes the Mustangs remain a top adversary for the Broncos.
“Especially after last year’s playoffs,” said the Lloydminster product, “every time we play them, we want to beat them, it’s just a bigger game for us. I think as a team and as a community it’s a big rival for us.”
The Mustangs have not experienced any kind of hangover following the league championship this season. Melfort has emerged from the pack in the SJHL standings, sitting with 42 points (21-4), nine points ahead of both the Yorkton Terriers and Battlefords North Stars. Melfort has won their last ten games.
Humboldt is currently in the middle of the playoff race, with 29 points (14-11-1), tied with the Melville Millionaires for 6th overall in the league standings. Unlike the Mustangs, the Broncos have been unable to string together a long winning streak this year. McIlwain believes a lack of consistency is what is holding the team back but still has faith in the team.
“I know we have the group here in to do it, we’ve shown it this year to be the best team in this league, we just need to find consistency, I think we’re hitting at a point where we are kind of finding it, we’re just on the brink of getting there.”
The first half of the home and home set is tonight with the rematch Saturday night in Humboldt.
In late February, the Broncos and Mustangs will conclude their season series with another back-to-back matchup in Melfort and Humboldt.
Coverage for Friday night’s game on Bolt FM begins at 7:15, opening faceoff is 7:30.
On Saturday night, the pregame show begins at 6:45, with the puck dropping at 7:00.
You can listen to the full interview with McIlwain and Blaine Weyland below.