OGDEN — It was a roller coaster weekend for the Mustangs as they split a two-game set with the visiting Salt Lake Moose 4-0, 6-5 at the Weber County Ice Sheet Friday and Saturday night.
Sean Haltam and Dusty Watt nabbed three points apiece for Ogden with a goal and pair of assists each as the Mustangs lead the in-state rivalry with a 4-1-1 record against the Moose.
“We came back from the break hungry,” Ogden coach Jake Laime said after Saturday’s game. “But what we lack is that consistency. We know the knock on us is that we can put up numbers but we’re also very inconsistent and tonight was proof.”
The weekend also showcased three new Mustangs as forward Michael Dery joined the squad after playing 50 games last year in the North American League; defenseman Jonah Bolton comes in from the Philadelphia Junior Flyers, and South Weber native Matt Broman were added to the lineup.
“Broman brings a big body and will hopefully be able to box out in front of the net,” Laime said. “All these guys will really help to solidify our depth.”
Dery picked up his first goal in a Mustangs uniform and opened scoring on Friday night as the Mustangs shut out Salt Lake looking rejuvenated after the break.
Goals from Watt, Schuyler Seyfert and Olle Vennstrom in the second period blew the game open and Tyler Fallica was perfect in-goal for the Mustangs stopping 20 shots and logging his second shut-out of the season.
“We were winning all the races to the puck, doing the simple things and just working harder,” Watt said.
Ogden’s offense launched 39 shots at Salt Lake goalie Talon Miller in the win.
Fallica would struggle on the back of a lackluster defense on Saturday night though as the Moose jumped out to an early 3-0 lead on goals from Dan Veselovsky, Tyler Latimer and Brandon Luke.
Ogden’s Bobby Chamberlain put the Mustangs on the board after a power-play goal late in the first with assists coming from Kody Rodriguez and Zach O’Mara.
The Mustangs outscored Salt Lake 2-1 in the second period on goals from David Clements (power play) and Vennstrom cutting the Moose lead to one going into the third.
Down 4-3 Ogden scored a pair of goals midway through the third period to take a 5-4 lead and looked to complete the come-from-behind win for the sweep.
With the clock ticking down Salt Lake pulled Miller from goal and with 37 seconds left the extra attacker allowed Patrick Dwyer to score from just inside the blue line with a blistering shot that Fallica never saw.
“Instructions were to shadow and contain Dwyer,” Laime said. “He’s got some major speed and works the puck well. We didn’t do that and with 30 seconds left he scores.”
The teams battled through a scoreless overtime and Salt Lake bested the Mustangs 2-1 in the shootout.
“It’s very disappointing obviously,” Watt said. “It’s great to come back, which we did, but you can’t let them back in it once you get that lead.
Ogden still has a solid hold on second place in the Western States Hockey League’s Northwest division at 12-7-1-4 and will travel to Boise to meet the division-leading Idaho Junior Steelheads for a three-game set next weekend.
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