Soo; Melfort go in search of 1st win at RBC Cup

NORTHERN ONTARIO JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE

NOJHL MEDIA UPDATE

Release Date: Monday, May 11, 2015

Soo; Melfort go in search of 1st win at RBC Cup

PORTAGE LA PRAIRIE, Man. –  A pair of 0-1 teams will go in search of their first victory in the lone contest of Day 3 at the RBC Cup Canadian Jr. A Championship at PCU Centre in Portage la Prairie, Man.

The match-up features the Soo Thunderbirds (NOJHL) taking on the Melfort Mustangs (SJHL) and will get underway at 8 p.m. at PCU Centre.

All RBC Cup round robin and semifinal games are available online via FASTHockey.com while the championship will be on TSN.

Sault Ste. Marie fell 4-0 in their opener Saturday to the Carleton Place Canadians (CCHL), who have started the five-team event 2-0 after also blanking the host Portage Terriers (MJHL) 3-0 Sunday evening on back-to-back shutouts by Guillaume Therien.

Melfort meanwhile also fell 4-0 in their first game to the Penticton Vees (BCHL) (1-1) Sunday afternoon.

Here’s a look at the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League Canalta Cup champion Mustangs.

TEAM: Melfort Mustangs

LEAGUE: Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League

HEAD COACH: Trevor Blevins

Melfort is one of three teams that competed in the Western Canada Cup that is in Portage la Prairie.

The Mustangs grabbed the No. 2 slot after Penticton won while Portage is serving as the host team.

They finished first overall in the SJHL during the course of the regular season buoyed by league MVP and scoring leader Travis Mayan.

The 19-year-old Mayan paced the SJHL scoring 40 times and adding 44 assists for 84 points.

They had playoff round triumphs over the Weyburn Red Wings in quarter-final play in five games before doing likewise in the semifinals vs. the Nipawin Hawks.

It was all Mustangs in the Canalta Cup final as they swept the Notre Dame Hounds in four straight.

In the postseason the Mustangs had the top three offensive producers led by Adam Fauchoux and Tristan Frei, who had 23 points apiece while Mayan had 21.

Fauchoux would also go on to be named playoff MVP.

Melfort defenceman and team captain David Heath topped his club in points among blueliners with 12 in 14 outings while Luc Lemire had 10.

While Mayan led the SJHL in scoring they also got solid contributions from Justin Boyer, Fauchoux and Lemire as they all surpassed the 50-point plateau.

Goaltender Richard Palmer was exceptional during the course of the regular season finishing with a 29-6 record with a SJHL-best 1.78 goals-against average.

He was also second in save percentage at .932 and posted five shutouts, which tied him for the league lead.

Palmer was equally as solid in the playoffs going 12-2 with a 2.07 average and a .922 save mark.

At the Western Canada Cup, Melfort finished fourth in the round robin, but upended the host Fort McMurray Oil Barons 4-2 when it counted in semifinal action to secure their place in Portage.

Boyer’s five points led the Mustangs at the WCC while Palmer had a 2-3 record with 2.91 average and .910 save percentage.

NEXT UP: Following Monday’s encounter with Melfort, the Thunderbirds will take on the host Portage Terriers Tuesday at 8 p.m. back at PCU Centre.

RBC Cup Canadian Jr. A Championship
PCU Centre – Portage la Prairie, Man.
Dates: May 9-17
Competing Teams
Host: Portage Terriers (MJHL)
Central: Soo Thunderbirds (Dudley-Hewitt Cup champion)
East: Carleton Place Canadians (Fred Page Cup champion)
West 1: Penticton Vees (Crescent Point Energy Cup champion)
West 2: Melfort Mustangs (Crescent Point Energy Cup finalist)

Schedule
Saturday, May 9
Portage 3 Penticton 2
Carleton Place 4 Soo 0
Sunday, May 10
Penticton 4 Melfort 0
Carleton Place 3 Portage 0
Monday, May 11
Melfort vs. Soo 8 p.m.
Tuesday, May 12
Carleton Place vs. Penticton 3 p.m.
Soo vs. Portage 8 p.m.
Wednesday, May 13
Carleton Place vs. Melfort 8 p.m.
Thursday, May 14
Penticton vs. Soo 3 p.m.
Portage vs. Melfort 8 p.m.
Friday, May 17
CJHL Awards Banquet
Saturday, May 16
Semifinal 1: 3 p.m.
Semifinal 2: 8 p.m.
Sunday, May 17
Final: 8 p.m.