(Photo courtesy/Broad Leaf Media, Facebook)

By Ben Tompkins

The Playoff MVP

The WHL veteran who came home; Chase Friedt-Mohr Player Profile

May 17, 2024 | 11:58 AM

The Melfort Mustangs are 2024 SJHL Champions, which means their nine 20-year-old players have gone out in style.

While they have all turned their attention to the Centennial Cup, their final career SJHL game is one to remember.

After spending parts of four seasons within the Western Hockey League, Chase Friedt-Mohr came home for one final year in junior hockey when he was traded to the Mustangs in the offseason from the Melville Millionaires.

The two-way defenceman immediately developed an unbreakable bond with Melfort captain Leith Olafson, as the two became the best defensive pairing in the entire league.

“The first couple of days after we had won, it hadn’t really settled in yet, but then once we got back on the ice and started to prepare for our Centennial Cup run here, it started to hit me that it was true,” he told northeastNOW.

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“It’s so awesome to be here. I told my parents that there’s no better way that I’d want to go out in junior; winning a league title and now competing at nationals. We have a goal of trying to win this one as well.”

Friedt-Mohr came to the Blue and Green with 131 games of Western Hockey League experience, in which he put up 22 points between the Spokane Chiefs, Edmonton Oil Kings, and Tri-City Americans.

This year though, he played less than 100 kilometres away from his hometown of Prince Albert, adding 80 points in just 70 games, which included capturing the 2024 SJHL Playoff MVP Award.

“It was awesome to be close to home, not only for myself but for my family to be able to come and watch too. Pretty much every game this season they had tickets, so it was really special for me to see them in the crowd every night, along with other family and friends,” added Friedt-Mohr.

“As far as my MVP award is concerned, it’s probably something I’ll enjoy later on in the fall. The longer that time goes on…I’m just super pumped of winning the whole thing and I’m really proud of this group.”

Whether it was blasting what appeared to be the hardest slap shot in the league off a one-timer on the power play, angling the other team into the boards with a great hip-check, joining the rush as the most offensively talented D-man in the league, or always supporting his close buddy Olafson, Friedt-Mohr did it all with class and led by example.

Friedt-Mohr said he is very grateful to be a part of this year’s Mustangs group, alongside his fellow 20-year-old teammates in Aidyn Hutchinson, Nolan Henderson, Leith Olafson, Clay Sleeva, Hayden Prosofsky, Logan Cox, Ryan Duguay, and Tye Evans.

“I’ve been around junior [hockey] for a while, so I’m excited for the opportunity to move on as well, but it is sad knowing that our days at the Palace are done. It’s the place where you spent your last year of junior, so it’s definitely a bit sad to leave,” Friedt-Mohr said.

“All the 20-year-olds knew it was their last year, so we were all determined and we knew that we had a good team here. All the younger guys were outstanding and we know they’re all going to fill our shoes nicely next year. We had a very special group and we wanted to lead them to a championship, and we were able to do that.”

The 20-year-old will stay in his home province during his next hockey adventure as he has already committed to play for the University of Regina, come this fall.

The Melfort Mustangs are enjoying two well deserved days off. Next up at the Centennial Cup the blue and green will play a semi-final opponent, yet to be determined. The puck drops at 7:30 p.m. Eastern time on Saturday.

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Ben.Tompkins@pattisonmedia.com

On X @BenTompkins_8