Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League

Mustangs’ Lopez commits to Waterloo

~ Article courtesy Ben Tompkins/northeastNOW, image courtesy Melfort Mustangs

Former Melfort Mustang and recent 2021/22 graduate, Marco Lopez, has committed to extending his hockey career.

This fall, the 2001-born forward will begin his post-secondary hockey career out east, suiting up for the Waterloo University Warriors.

The Warriors, who compete at the USports level as a part of Ontario University Athletics (OUA), will be receiving an SJHL vet who spent his entire three-year Junior ‘A’ career in Melfort.

In 106 regular season games, Lopez racked up 33 goals and 34 assists, good for 67 points. He would also play in eight playoff games over two seasons, adding four goals and an assist for five points.

Lopez, who plans to study kinesiology, spoke about his decision in a press release sent to northeastnow.

“Waterloo is the best choice for me because of the outstanding hockey and kinesiology programs it offers. I have heard nothing but great things about Waterloo from family and past graduates. I am looking forward to joining the Warriors this fall and I want to thank the Mustangs and Warriors coaching staffs for making this a possibility.”

This past season, the Grand Prairie, Alta. product scored 23 goals, second-best on the squad, to go along with 25 assists, third best, for 48 points in 55 games. Lopez would also lead the team in goals during the playoffs with four.

During the 2020/2021 COVID-shortened season, Lopez played in four games, scoring one goal and adding one assist. As a rookie in 2019/2020, he scored nine goals and added eight assists for 17 points, second-most among rookies that season.

The Mustangs are proud to announce that one of their own will be moving on to bigger and better things, with a very promising future that continues to lie ahead.

Ben.Tompkins@pattisonmedia.com
On Twitter @BenTompkins_8