(Photo courtesy/Broad Leaf Media)

By Ben Tompkins

The Univeristy of Saskatchewan Mustangs?

Former Mustang Venne commits to U of S, joining Somers and Andrusiak

Jun 25, 2025 | 5:41 PM

The University of Saskatchewan Huskie men’s hockey team has added another player who at one time was a prominent member of the Melfort Mustangs.

James Venne has committed to the U of S, joining former teammate Zac Somers, as well as Mustang defenceman Nic Andrusiak, in Saskatoon.

Venne also played with Ben Tkachuk, who once captained the Stangs, and has been with the Huskies the past two seasons, helping lead them to a Canada West title and U Sports bronze medal in the 2024/25 campaign.

A Saskatoon native, Venne spent the last year in the BCHL with the Sherwood Park Crusaders.

“James is a big, mobile goaltender with a tremendous work ethic and a track record of winning. As a local Saskatoon product, he brings not only talent but a sense of pride in joining the Huskie Hockey family. We’re thrilled to welcome him to the team,” said Huskie Head Coach Brandin Cote, in a U of S press release.

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“I’m just super excited [to be joining the Huskies], [Coach] Coates is amazing, the facility is the best in the country, and obviously the rink and fans are unbelievable. I know a lot of the group, and I know we’re going to have a good team again, so hopefully we’ll continue this winning streak,” added Venne.

A six-foot-three, 174-pound netminder, Venne suited up for the Crusaders 32 times during the regular season, posting a 16-14-1 record, with a 3.63 goals-against average, .890 save-percentage, and one shutout. He was then between the pipes for eight playoff contests, spotting a 4-4 record with a 3.12 goals-against-average, a .916 save-percentage, and one shutout.

Meanwhile, during his three-year tenure with the Blue and Green, the now 21-year-old was regarded as one of, if not the best, goaltenders in franchise history.

His 130 games played and 77 wins are all-time Mustang records, along with his 7453 minutes of time-on-ice and 3350 saves. His seven regular-season shutouts are also tied for the franchise record and are just two short of the combined regular-season/playoff record.

In that time, he recorded an outstanding 1.99 goals-against-average and a .910 save percentage, amassing a 77-29-12 record with said seven shutouts.

During his last year in Melfort (2023/24), Venne led his Mustangs squad all the way to the National Final, as both an SJHL Goaltender of the Year and MVP finalist.

After winning the league title in Saskatchewan that year, he played five matches at the Centennial Cup (CJHL Championship Tournament) in Oakville, Ont., going 4 and 1 with a 2.18 goals-against-average and a .922 save percentage, which included a 35-save performance in a 1-0 gold medal game loss to the Collingwood Blues of the OJHL.

Venne was previously committed to the Northern Michigan University Wildcats of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association and NCAA Division I, where he would’ve gotten the opportunity to play with former Stangs’ teammates Aidyn Hutchinson and Ryan Duguay.

Another former Blue and Green skater just ended his five-year career with the Saskatchewan Huskie program, as Justin Ball, who also spent three seasons in the northeast (2016-19), was the captain of the Green and White during this past championship year.

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Ben.Tompkins@pattisonmedia.com

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