Ice Wolves tame Mustangs 

The La Ronge Ice Wolves recorded their second straight win Friday in Melfort when they tamed the Mustangs 4-2.

“I thought we got off to a great start tonight,” said Ice Wolves Asst. Coach Kyle Schneider. “We brought the work boots today – I thought we had all 20 guys going.”  

The Mustangs opened the scoring 5:01 into the game on the power play when Clarke Huxley tallied his 15th of the season.

La Ronge tied the game at one 7:42 into the first after Thomas Wright notched his 15th of the campaign when he beat James Venne from the perimeter. La Ronge took a 2-1 advantage 16:15 into the frame when Ethan Strik tipped home the puck on the power play. 

The Ice Wolves took a two-goal lead 13:32 into the second after Ethan Strik tallied his second of the evening. It was Strik’s 20th of the campaign. 

La Ronge made it a 4-1 game 4:43 into the third when Kale Taylor fed Jacob Visentini, who beat Venne in the slot. The Mustangs would add a late goal, but it did not matter as the Ice Wolves hung on for the victory in regulation. 

Meanwhile, Topher Chirico was brilliant in the La Ronge net, making 39 saves for his 13th win of the season. 

“It went well – we did the simple things right, we got the win and we’re hoping to do it again tomorrow,” said Chirico. “They are a good club over there, we have nothing but respect for them and we know it’s going to be a hard game (tomorrow).”

With the victory, the Ice Wolves improved to 30-17-5 on the season, which still has them sitting in fourth in the SJHL standings. It was a massive win for the Ice Wolves, who now have a three-point lead on the Melfort Mustangs as both teams battle for home ice in the post-season.

The Ice Wolves will search for their third straight win Saturday night at the Mel Hegland Uniplex when they close out a home-and-home series with the Mustangs.