OGDEN -- The Ogden Mustangs came into Saturday's game desperate for a victory after losing six straight games and before starting a portion of their schedule where they play 12 consecutive road games.
The desperation wasn't shown.
The Idaho Junior Steelheads beat the Mustangs 6-1 at The Ice Sheet in a game that was never really in doubt.
"I'm disappointed," said Ogden coach Devin Firl. "We've got the talent to compete out there, but the effort and dedication just isn't there. We really tried to focus on coming out hard tonight and we didn't. Something's got to change."
The Steelheads took a quick lead, scoring goals 14 seconds apart, less than three minutes into the first period and never looked back.
The Mustangs tried to shift the momentum in the second period -- much to the delight of screaming home ice fans -- getting into a brawl where all the players on the ice squared off to fight except the goalies, who restrained themselves. But Ogden ended up getting two extra penalties and two of their top offensive players thrown out of the game after the melee.
The Steelheads led 5-0 heading into the third period. Kevin Collins converted a power-play goal for the Mustangs early in the third, but that's as close as they would get.
Idaho -- the defending Western States Hockey League champions -- remains undefeated this season with a 7-0 record. The Mustangs dropped to 1-8.
The Mustangs were outshot 42-23 in the game.
The Mustangs play three games against the New Mexico Renegades on the road next weekend. They then have three more road series against the Dallas Ice Jets, Cheyenne Stampede and Boulder Bison, before returning home to face the Steelheads again on Dec. 2.
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