Photo by Marcel Vander Wier
RISING STAR – Mackenzie Benn-Wipp drives to the net during a Yukon Minor Midget Mustangs game in October. The centre scored twice on a recent five-game road trip.
Mustangs rack up victories during holiday road trips
Two Yukon Mustangs teams chose to forgo holiday relaxation this Christmas season.
Two Yukon Mustangs teams chose to forgo holiday relaxation this Christmas season.
The U16 Minor Midget Mustangs completed a five-game exhibition series Dec. 16 to 20 in Edmonton, finishing with a 2-2-1 record.
The team lost its first game Dec. 16 5-1 to the South Side Athletic Club (SSAC) Mustangs.
On Dec. 17, the team lost its second straight, 4-2 against an older midget AA squad from Bonnyville.
They went on to win two straight, 7-3 over a second SSAC team and 8-1 over the Strathcona Warriors, before tying the Sherwood Park Senators 2-2.
The Mustangs faced three of Edmonton’s top 15-year-old AA teams on the trip, said coach Martin Lawrie.
“We were pretty happy with the results,” he said, noting there were several Western Hockey League scouts in the stands for the series. “We were competitive in every game.”
Top goal scorers were Johnny Elias (5), Bryce Anderson (4) and Kyron Crosby (3), while Ethan Vanderkley was in net for all five games.
Prince George goalie Tyler Lindstrom has left the team and returned home for personal reasons.
The club is planning to host a two-game series with an Edmonton AAA team in early January.
Female Mustangs grab third in Langley
Meanwhile, the Female Mustangs squad galloped to third at the Angels On Ice Tournament in Langley, B.C.
The team finished 3-1-1, despite allowing only three goals in the tournament, coach Louis Bouchard said.
The midget Mustangs opened play Dec. 27 with a 4-1 win over the host Langley Lightning, then went on to win two straight Dec. 28 by shutout.
The Mustangs beat Abbotsford Abby Ice 3-0 and Surrey Falcons 9-0 thanks to perfect games by goalie Ayesha Barlas.
The team wrapped up play yesterday with a 1-1 tie against the Meadow Ridge Barracudas and a 2-1 overtime loss to the same team in the semifinal.
Maddie Nicholson led the Mustangs with seven goals in the tournament, while Piper Fordham buried five.
“We have a lot of new players this season for whom this was the first tournament,” Bouchard said. “They improved at every shift, every game, we are very proud of them.”
The team carried 12- and 13-year-olds in a U18 tournament, and were therefore very happy with the results.
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