The 2024-25 Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League campaign begins Friday. For the defending Canterra Seeds Cup champion and National silver medalist Melfort Mustangs, it must have felt like they barely had a break.
Head coach and general manager Trevor Blevins elected to begin their training camp as late as they could on Sept. 6, understandably, so watching how they start this campaign will be very interesting. That said, winning a championship is likely the best way to recruit, and the Mustangs have plenty of returners with championship rings to set the tone for whoever is new. The back end is mainly expected to be elite immediately, as in their final pre-season game vs. the Humboldt Broncos, Blevins called upon five returners and their marquee off-season acquisition in WHL veteran Nicholas Andrusiak.
Let’s look at some key numbers from the last regular season for Melfort.
Record: 38-14-3-1 (80 pts, 2nd place)
Special Teams: PP: 21.6% (5th); PK: 83.2% (2nd)
Goal Differential: GF: 218 (4th); GA: 158 (2nd); Diff: +60
Special Teams Frequency: Power-Play Opportunities: 268 (4th); Times Shorthanded: 250 (8th)
Goaltender Stats from 23-24
James Venne, 31-10-3, 2.62 GAA, .912 SV%, 4 SO
Kristian Coombs, 6-4-2, 3.28 GAA, .885 SV%, 1 SO
Top Scorers from 23-24:
Aidyn Hutchinson: 47GP, 33G, 45A, 78PTS
Clay Sleeva: 52GP, 25G, 34A, 59PTS
Chase Friedt-Mohr: 52GP, 14G, 42A, 56PTS
Ryan Duguay: 34GP, 26G, 26A, 52PTS
Logan Belton: 50GP, 21G, 26A, 47PTS
Indeed, the Mustangs lost some big pieces to graduation after last year’s championship. However, given the injuries the club overcame a season ago, many young players got plenty of opportunities, which should be enormous this season. After Andrusiak, 20-year-old Reilley Kotai from Austin of the NAHL is expected to contribute offensively, among a few other youngsters. Melfort can be expected to have up to 14 quality returners in their line-up opening night in La Ronge on Friday, so the Mustangs should be considered a big favourite if Kristian Coombs can step seamlessly into the starting spot vacated by the departed superstar James Venne.
SJHL Co-Director of Media Clark Munroe sat down with Coach Blevins ahead of the 24/25 season and asked his thoughts on the upcoming year.
