Latest news with #Melfort
Globe and Mail
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Globe and Mail
Saskatchewan's Ferland a perfect fit anywhere on Roughriders' offensive line
Logan Ferland has built a reputation for versatility over his CFL career. The 28-year-old can play – and excel – at any position on the offensive line. His adaptability was apparent during the 2024 season, when injuries forced the Roughriders to use 13 different starters and 16 players total on the line. Ferland made 11 starts at right guard, two, including the West final, at right tackle and six, including the West semi-final, at centre. He performed so admirably he was named the outstanding offensive lineman for the West Division and a CFL all-star at guard. For Ferland, from Melfort, Sask., it hasn't been a problem shifting to multiple spots on the offensive line, because it has been something he has been doing since his junior days in the CJFL. He was often lined up against the best defensive lineman the opponents had. 'Where it started was really with the Regina Thunder,' said Ferland, who starred for the team from 2015 to 2019. 'My last couple of years they would move me around in different spots. 'I really got used to it there. I was playing in multiple positions. When I moved on to the 'Riders, I knew that would be a way I could make the team was showing my versatility even though I was undersized at the time.' It appears the Roughriders are going to have to lean on Ferland's versatility once again. The team has already lost a pair of big free agency pickups to long term injury at its training camp at Griffiths Stadium on the University of Saskatchewan campus. Centre Sean McEwen, who played last season with the Calgary Stampeders, is out with an unspecified leg injury. Roughriders head coach Corey Mace confirmed Saturday that McEwen, who earned a Grey Cup ring with the Toronto Argonauts in 2017, would be out for a lengthy stretch. Guard Philippe Gagnon tore his biceps at practice on Monday. On Wednesday, Mace said Gagnon's injury might not be season ending, but he won't be available for a while. Gagnon played with the Montreal Alouettes last season and helped them win the Grey Cup in 2023. Those injuries caused the Roughriders to re-sign Saskatchewan Huskies grad Noah Zerr on Tuesday after releasing him on May 14. The Roughriders play the first of their two pre-season games on Saturday, when they travel to Winnipeg to take on the Blue Bombers at Princess Auto Stadium. Saskatchewan has a bit of time before cementing a starting offensive line. The Roughriders open their regular season June 5, hosting the Ottawa Redblacks at Mosaic Stadium. Mace said Ferland's versatility is a huge asset for the team. 'We think so highly of Logan as an offensive lineman, period, and that is at multiple positions,' said Mace. 'If something does happen, having him as somebody who can move into multiple spots allows us to keep him on the field always and affords us an opportunity to put the best linemen out there that we feel gives us the best shot to win. 'I am extremely happy with him. He takes reps at all spots still, so I can't say enough good things about Logan Ferland.' Once the injuries started to happen at training camp, it was business as usual for Ferland. He will play wherever the team needs him to play. 'I approach it like any other year, nothing changes,' said Ferland, who stands six-foot-four and weighs 300 pounds. '[The coaches] do reports for me every year, so I approach it like being ready for any spot. 'If they throw me in at centre, I will play centre. If they want to move me up to tackle, I will be ready for that. If they want to keep me at guard, I'll stay a guard.' Ferland, who says his favourite position is right guard, said a number of coaches with the Thunder and the Roughriders played a huge role in helping develop his versatility. He said he also learned a lot from now retired centre Dan Clark, who is also a Thunder alumnus, and retired guard Brandon LaBatte, a Regina Rams grad. Ferland still says it is special for him to play for the Roughriders after growing in small Saskatchewan towns. He lived in Kindersley until age 11 before moving to Melfort and later playing for the Melfort and Unit Comprehensive Collegiate Comets nine-man team in high school. He said the veterans he played with when he first joined the Roughriders reinforced that. 'It really is an honour to be able to play for this province being from here,' Ferland said. 'Growing up watching these guys and now being here, I have to pinch myself sometimes and just really realize where I am at. 'I have full-circle moments when I think back to where I initially started watching those guys and really looking up to those guys on TV.' He says he is now setting a goal for young players who want to play professionally. 'Especially the ones from Saskatchewan – from the small-town schools – that might not think they have the opportunity. 'They can make an opportunity for themselves.'
CTV News
19-05-2025
- General
- CTV News
Sask. home destroyed in weekend fire
Firefighters from Melfort, Sask. were called in to help protect nearby homes when a fire completely engulfed a house in the nearby town of Star City on Saturday. The crew from Melfort was called in just after 3 p.m. Saturday, according to the Melfort Fire Department. When they arrived at the town, situated between Melfort and Tisdale, Sask., Star City firefighters were already engaged in an aggressive attack, so the Melfort crew worked to contain the blaze from spreading to neighbouring properties. The home was unoccupied at the time of the fire, and no injuries were reported. In a statement, the Melfort Fire Department lauded the Star City crew and other responders for their efforts. 'We would like to thank the Star City Fire Department for their excellent initial response to the fire, as well as the RCMP, SaskPower, and SaskEnergy for their support.' -With Canadian Press files
Ottawa Citizen
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Ottawa Citizen
Greater Sudbury Cubs' Centennial Cup run comes to an end
With a three-goal lead heading into the third period on Friday night, the Melfort Mustangs held the fort handily against the Greater Sudbury Cubs to take a 7-1 victory and end the locals' historic run at the Centennial Cup national junior A hockey championship. Article content Noah Kohan had the lone goal and Noah Beaulne made 34 saves for the Cubs, who had become the first NOJHL representatives since the 2012 Soo Thunderbirds to reach the quarter-final round and the first from the Sudbury area since the 2000 Rayside-Balfour Sabrecats. Article content Article content 'Two last-minute goals at the end of the first and the second was the difference in the game for us,' Greater Sudbury head coach Darryl Moxam said later. 'It was just too big a mountain to climb. They are one heck of a hockey club, they've been there before and today we quite honestly just ran out of gas.' Article content Article content The Cubs finished their 2024-25 season with an overall record of 58-12-1-1, including regular-season, playoff and Centennial Cup action, while winning a second straight league championship and back-to-back berths at nationals. Article content With No. 1 netminder Karsen Chartier unable to play against the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League champions, Beaulne was tabbed as starter shortly before game time, with Matthew Vahramian serving as backup. Beaulne earned his coach's admiration for his performance, especially during a first period in which the Cubs were outshot 24-7. Article content 'Noah made some saves in the first period I don't know that I've seen in the last 10 years,' Moxam said. 'I'll be honest, he found out he was going in and we had had to get Matty dressed and he found out with about 12 minutes to go that he was starting the game. The job he did, I can't stress enough how proud I am of everyone in that room, but in particular today, what Beau did going in there was pretty special.' Article content Article content Melfort's Kaleb Binner finally opened the scoring off a giveaway at 6:41, before Cole Unger collected a loose puck late in the stanza and snapped a shot past Beaulne for a 2-0 lead. Article content Kohan put Greater Sudbury on the board when he lifted a feed from Alex Valade over Melfort's Kristian Coombs at 5:35 of the second, but the the SJHL reps responded with a power-play tally by Ashton Hutchinson, then an even-strength marker off the stick of Zac Somers in the final minute of the frame. Article content Beaulne denied Tristin Ziola on a breakaway early in the third, but Reilley Kotai made it a 5-1 Melfort lead midway through the period. Bryson Aikens added an empty netter and Ashton Paul tacked on one more power-play goal as the Mustangs clinched a semifinal spot against the Trenton Golden Hawks, champions from the Ontario Junior Hockey League, on Saturday evening. Start time is 9:30 p.m. ET.
CTV News
15-05-2025
- Sport
- CTV News
Mustangs advance to Quarter Final at Centennial Cup
Regina Watch Melfort Mustangs pick up big overtime win over Valleyfield to advance to the quarterfinals of the 2025 Centennial Cup National Championship
Ottawa Citizen
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Ottawa Citizen
Mustangs score four in third period to defeat Rockland
Article content Melfort Mustangs have upped its game at the Centennial Cup, defeating the Rockland Nationals of the Central Canada Hockey League to improve to 2-1 in the tournament. In the process, Melfort has boosted its intimidation factor in a tournament featuring the best junior A teams in the country. Article content While the Mustangs ended up beating the Nationals by a convincing 5-2 score, the convincing came late in the game. There was no scoring in the first period, nor an overwhelming number of shots on goal, with Melfort putting the punk on the net eight times compared to five by Rockland. Article content Article content But the Nationals scored the games first goal, coming at 12:30 of the second period. Melfort tied the game just over two minutes later with a goal from Will Munro. The Ontario club kept the pressure on the Mustangs goaltender throughout the second, with 13 shots on net compared to Melfort's nine. Article content Article content The third period started out as a nail-biter. The game was tied 1-1 until Melfort's Nolan Roberts scored at 5:49. Tristan Ziola made it 3-1 at the 13:00 mark, but any sense of relief was soon snatched away by the Nationals Anthony Hall, who brought his team within one goal at 14:55. Article content With about a minute-and-a-half left in the game, and Melfort clinging to a 3-2 lead, Rockland pulled its goalie. But the strategy was not rewarded. Melfort's Brayden Westerlund scored on the empty net at 18:52. Rockland left the net empty until 19:32, when Melfort scored a fourth goal in the period, another empty netter, this one from Ashton Hutchinson. Article content The game ended 5-2. Melfort outshot Rockland 27-25. The teams each had three power plays and 10 penalty minutes. Article content
