The Midale Mustangs beat the defending champion Carnduff Red Devils 4-1 in a best-of-seven series to win the Big Six Hockey League championship for the first time since the Midale Coalers in the 1960-1961 season.

"It was a long time coming," acknowledged Mustangs head coach Kelly Orsted. "It has gotten a lot of people in the community talking about the old days."

"It is pretty awesome to see all the people out celebrating afterwards," said captain Geoff Charles, who has been with the Mustangs organization for three years. "It shows there is a lot of pride for this team."

"It has brought the community together," said second year Mustang left winger Ty Magotiaux. "At the last game, I have never seen that big of a crowd at the arena."

On Wednesday night, the Mustangs were back in the friendly confines of the Harry O Memorial Arena for game three of the Big Six Hockey League Championship and won 3-1, with former Weyburn Devil Corey Koski scoring the game winner in the second period, to take a 2-1 series lead.

Game four was played in Carnduff on Friday where the Mustangs overcame a 3-1 deficit late in the third period to win the game 4-3 in overtime.

The Mustangs took the title on Sunday night in front of their hometown crowd at the Harry O Memorial Arena, as they defeated the Red Devils 3-2. Koski opened the scoring for the Mustangs with assists from former Weyburn Devil Christian Cote and Jeff Clauson.

In the second period, Dan McLellan scored a power play marker for the Mustangs with assists from Koski and Cote as Midale held a 2-1 lead going into the third period.

Magotiaux scored, assisted by McLellan and Mike Sarada, early in the third period to give Midale a two-goal advantage. Carnduff was able to score with their goaltender pulled for the extra attacker late in the third period, but they couldn't get the equalizer past Midale goaltender Landon Irwin.

Following the final buzzer, Charles accepted the Lincoln Trophy on behalf of the team as the Mustangs were named the Big Six Hockey League Champions.

"Going up against the defending champions, we had to be ready. It is always tough going up against the champion. It was great that we were able to pull it off with the talent we had," Orsted said.

"Carnduff was a tough opponent and we had a lot of close games," said Charles. "It was a really good season and everyone came together in the playoffs."

"It is pretty exciting (to win the championship). They are a good group of guys and I really enjoyed my time with them this season," said Magotiaux.

Orsted felt that last year his team had a chance to win the league, but couldn't pull it off. This year all of the players were on the same page and were going after a common goal.

"At the first skate, we had a meeting at centre ice," Orsted said. "We made the goal, as a team, to take the league."

"The season went really well," said Magotiaux. "When coach Kelly Orsted told us there were some players coming in from Weyburn, we knew we had a good chance of winning. They are a good group of guys."

Koski finished the playoffs second overall in points and led the team with 13 goals and 12 assists in 12 games played. Second in team scoring was Clauson with eight goals and 12 assists in 13 games played, followed by Christian Cote with four goals and 13 assists in 12 games played.

Irwin was the top goaltender overall in the playoff with a record of 11 wins and three losses. He logged 848 minutes between the pipes and allowed 45 goals against and one empty net goal for a 3.18 goals-against average.