Mustangs Add Forward From Buffalo

The Melfort Mustangs have added right winger Nicolas Angelo from Buffalo, New York. Head Coach & Director of Hockey Operations Darrell Mann had said after acquiring defenceman Brendon Wall that he wanted a skilled forward to complete the puzzle. When talking about his latest addition, Mann said, “He’s a skilled right winger that comes in here as a 19 year old and we think he can fill a void on offence that we have been missing. He’s very skilled, very fast and probably going to remind some of the people here in Melfort of Jeff Hajner. He skates the same way and kind of plays the same style of hockey.”

Angelo has been practicing on the Stangs top line with Jesse Mireau and Sean Aschim. That would mean Brody Haygarth will move down to a second line and it might be a case where Melfort has a #1 and a #1a line. He will be in the line up for tomorrow’s home game against the Nipawin Hawks.

The 5′ 9″ 175 pounder played 21 games for the Rochester Stars of the Eastern Junior Hockey League this season compiling 2 goals and 10 assists to go along with 41 penalty minutes. Rochester has just 7 wins in 28 games so far this season.

Hawks Add D-Man

The Nipawin Hawks traded away 20 year old defenceman Brentt Becker to the Weyburn Red Wings in exchange for 18 year old rear guard Grant Jensen and future considerations. Becker has been sitting out waiting on a trade and got his wish yesterday. The 6’1″ 180 pound Jenson has been playing for Fort Knox of the PJHL. He has played in 19 games for his junior ‘B’ club this season and has a goal and 4 assists to go along with 52 penalty minutes.

He can fit in right away for the Black & Gold as it is no secret that they are short of defencemen. Hawks coach & GM Doug Johnson said, “He’s a big bodied defenceman that skates pretty good and has a little edge to his game. Everybody says he’s projected to be a very good player in our league and we’re real happy to have him.” With Becker gone, the Hawks are down to just three 20 year olds on their roster (Brant Remenda, Jonathion Ceci and Mathew Spafford).

Mustangs Add WHL Experience

The Melfort Mustangs rank 2nd in defence in the SJHL and it may have gotten even better. The club announced the signing of rear-guard Brendon Wall who was just let go by the Kelowna Rockets. The 20 year old played in 20 games this season collecting a goal and 3 assists. Wall also played for the Saskatoon Blades and Prince Albert Raiders over the past few years. He played in a total of 123 regular season games and 1 playoff game in major-junior. The 6’1″ 191 pound Saskatoon native played a short stint with the Melfort Mustangs a few years ago when captain Tommy Brown went down with an injury. Stangs coach Darrell Mann said,”He’s got 3 years of major-junior experience and comes in and will be one of the top defenceman in our league. And to add him to the group we have, we really like our back end. He’s just going to make us stronger on a nightly basis.”

The move will give Melfort their full compliment of 20 year olds. Darrell still wants to add an experience forward who can score by the trade deadline which might mean he’ll have to depart with one of his 20 year olds he has already.

Only the Yorkton Terriers have allowed fewer goals per game than Melfort. With the strong play of both goaltenders and the addition of Wall, this looks like a club that could really give La Ronge a run for their money in the Bauer Conference.

Mustang Report

As always, I’m late posting. Here is the Mustang Report I did with Darrell Mann on Monday before the southern road trip.

Mustang Report

Melfort won a big game last night (Tuesday) to move into sole possession of 2nd place in the Bauer Conference. They still have games in hand on everyone except Nipawin in the Bauer Conference. Melfort scored twice on the PP (even though the game sheet said once, not sure if it got changed yet) and once short-handed.

They play the Yorkton Terriers tonight. The Terriers haven’t played a game in a week and a half and have only played twice all month (both at the showcase). That means they’ll probably either be rusty or very well rested. This is a battle of the 2 best defensive teams in the SJHL. Tonight’s game in Yorkton will be on CK750 starting at 7:15 with the pre-game show.

There’s also a major signing by the Mustangs I will post either later tonight or tomorrow. I’m at Farrell Agencies Arena right now preparing for the game so I won’t have time to do it right away.

The team left for Yorkton immediately after last night’s game and we ate pizza on the bus. It was a good stay at the Ramada Inn, great pool but I didn’t bring my trunks. We got to the arena nice and early today which is always a bonus for a broadcaster. Enjoy the game.

Broncos To Play Sweden On New Year’s

The Humboldt Broncos announced that they have an exhibition game on January 1st against Sweden’s National Under 17 team. In fact, the Swedes will be taking on 4 different SJHL clubs (Flin Flon, La Ronge, Battlefords and Humboldt) during their tour. Game time is set for 3:00 at the Elgar Peterson Arena. Despite the Swedes being a youger team, it will be a stiff test for the Broncos. Most of the players on the National Team are expected to be competing in the 2012 World Junior Hockey Championships.

The city of Humboldt is already starting to talk about the event. President Bob Johnson said, “It’s a great opportunity for them to play against a different skill set. They’re going to be a highly skilled team. I’m looking forward to it from the organization’s point of view and hopefully we can make a little money while doing it.”

Tickets are $10 dollars for season ticket holders and they can purchase 2 additional tickets at that price. The price is $15 dollars per ticket at the door. For more information, people can either drop in to the Bronco’s office or phone 682-5575.

Hawkey Talk

Don’t look now but the Nipawin Hawks have won 2 in a row. Both victories came over the Humboldt Broncos (once at the showcase and once this past Wednesday). The Black & Gold were already short in the defence position so life was made a little tougher when Chad Crawford and Brentt Becker left this past week. That leaves the Black & Gold with just 4 regular defenceman but Steven Jean should be returning next week and it is almost guaranteed that head coach Doug Johnson will have to put him back on defence again. It looks like Spafford, Ceci and Paslawski are starting to heat up which will be welcome news for the team that has had trouble scoring goals this year. I saw former Hawk Scott Brykich at the gym in Melfort yesterday working out with a few of his new teammates (Zach Johnson, Brett Kipling, Lee Christensen etc.). I told him it just didn’t look right seeing him hanging out with those guys who of course used to be the enemy. He admitted that it was a little bit weird. I spoke with Doug Johnson yesterday and here is the Hawkey Talk that was aired on both of our stations yesterday afternoon.

Hawkey Talk

Nipawin comes into tonight’s game at 9-16-3-1. Back up goaltender Stephen Klein has started the past 2 games and he is sure to get 1 of the starts this weekend as the Hawks play 2 games in 2 nights. Doug told me that he has earned the starts. The team is at home to Weyburn tonight and Melville tomorrow.

Bronco Round Up Revision

I would like to thank the people who let me know that I inserted the wrong clip for Wednesday’s Bronco Round Up. I accidently put in last week’s instead of this week’s. It has been updated.

Bronco Round Up

The Humboldt Broncos have had an interesting season to say the least. It’s been a tale of 2 different teams, one good, one not so good. I think it’s fair to say that they weren’t quite as good as what their record said at the start of the season and not quite as bad as their record has been in the last month. They’ve now won 2 in a row and outscored their opponents 10-2 in those 2 games. However, on the other side of the coin, forward Spencer Braaten may be done for the season and arguably their best defenceman Josh Roach is in Dauphin for the ‘Prospects Game’. They dressed just 5 defenceman in last night’s 5-0 win over Flin Flon. I spoke with Broncos coach Dean Brockman this morning and here is today’s edition of Bronco Round Up.

Bronco Round Up

Humboldt plays in Nipawin tonight. The Hawks beat the Broncos 6-2 at the Showcase on Saturday. Defenceman Chase Wharton will not be in the line up as he continues to recover from an injury. The Green & Gold come into the contest at 19-12-0-1 which is 2nd in the Bauer Conference. They will have played 3 more games than Melfort after tonight and the Mustangs are currently 2 points behind. The Hawks are 8-16-3-1 and last in the the North. They currently sit 10 points out of a playoff spot.

Mustang Report

The Melfort Mustangs had a good showing at the SJHL Showcase but just came out with 2 points out of a possible 4. I was not able to make it to the Showcase because of a prior commitment with the U of S Huskies football team. From what I was told, the Mustangs outplayed the Terriers in 2 of 3 periods but lost 3-1 on Saturday. Then, they beat Melville 3-1 on Sunday. Here is yesterday’s edition of the Mustang Report with head coach Darrell Mann.

Mustang Report

Melfort doesn’t play again until Saturday when the Weyburn Red Wings visit the Palace. Melfort is tied for 2nd in the Bauer Conference at 16-9-3-2. Humboldt also has 37 points but the Mustangs have a game in hand. The Red Wings are 3rd in the Sherwood at 16-13-0-1.

Hawkey Talk

The Nipawin Hawks will be trying to break their 4-game losing streak at the Showcase tomorrow. They take on the host Weyburn Red Wings in their first game at 5:00. The team made a few transactions as you’ll hear in the clip but head coach Doug Johnson said he would have liked to have gotten 1 more defenceman. The team has 6 right now. Here is today’s edition of Hawkey Talk.

Hawkey Talk

The Hawks come into the weekend with a 7-15-3-1 record which is 6th in the Bauer Conference. They are currently 10 points out of a playoff spot.

Broncos Add Forward From BC

The Humboldt Broncos have acquired 19 year old forward Greg Ferguson from the Cowichan Valley Capitals of the BCHL in exchange for the playing rights to Darcy Kuemper and future considerations. The 6′ 180 pound Ferguson played for Weyburn last season and collected 9 goals and 10 assists in 47 games for the Red Wings as an 18 year old. The Govan, Saskatchewan native is said to have good offensive skills and is strong around the net. In 7 games with Cowichan this season, he had a goal and 2 assists.

Nipawin Gets Much Needed Defenceman

The Nipawin Hawks have acquired 18 year old defenceman Jeff Datoff from the Prince George Spruce Kings of the BCHL for future considerations. The Nanaimo, BC product is 5′ 10″ and 160 lbs. In 29 games with the Spruce Kings this season, Datoff had a goal, 2 assists and 14 minutes in penalties. He played in 46 games for Prince George as a 17 year old last season.

Broncos Ship Valliant Back To Hometown

The Humboldt Broncos have sent 3rd-year veteran defenceman Kenton Valliant to the Sudbury Wolves of the NOJHL for future considerations. The Green & Gold will get a player or players next season in exchange. In 27 games this season, Valliant had no goals and 3 assists to go along with 34 penalty minutes. The move leaves Humboldt with seven 20 year olds on their roster.

Mustangs Add A Pair Of Forwards

The Melfort Mustangs have acquired forward Devin Balness from the Brooks Bandits of the AJHL. They also picked up forward Jordan Bauer from the Canmore Eagles, also of the AJHL. Balness is an 18 year old that spent a year and a half with the Edmonton Oil Kings of the WHL while Bauer is a 19 year old who played with the Kootenay Ice, also in the WHL. Balness is 5′ 10″ and 175 lbs with skill while Bauer is 6’1″ and 195 lbs that brings size and depth to the club. Both will be in the line up for tonight’s game against La Ronge.

Hawks Deal Brkich To Mustangs

Defenceman Scott Brkich is now a Melfort Mustang. The 20 year old rear guard was in his 2nd season with the Hawks and tallied 4 goals and 8 assists in 26 games this season. In exchange, Nipawin gets 17 year old forwards Tyson Dallman and Dustin Skilliter. Dallman is 6′ 165lbs and has accumulated 7 goals and 6 assists in just 10 games with the Prince Albert Mintos this season while Skilliter is 6 ‘ and 185 lbs. The Hudson Bay product has 9 goals and 15 assists in 21 games with the Yorkton Harvest.

Hawks coach Doug Johnson said he hopes to AP both players this season and give them a handful of games. Mustangs coach Darrell Mann said that Brkich will be in the line up against La Ronge tonight.