The race for second place among local senior hockey clubs got a lot tighter after the Akwesasne Wild breezed past the South Stormont Mustangs, winning 9-5 on Saturday night at A’nowara’ko:wa Arena.

The Wild crept within two points of the perennial divisional runner-up Mustangs, who hold one game in hand, in the Frontier Division of the Northern Premier Hockey League.

“It’s a statement win against the Mustangs,” said Wild head coach, Jamie Lavigne.

The Wild’s standing improved to 3-5-2, while the Mustangs slipped to 5-4.

Lavigne acknowledged the Mustangs came with a shortened bench that included the absence of their No. 1 goalie, Dmitri Pelokos.

After Akwesasne led the first period 2-1, Lavigne laid it out for his players.

“We turned the music off in the room, and I told them, ‘This i

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