Sopotyk happy to be back; Nkwama gets Mintos’ OT winner
After scoring 42 goals to lead the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League as a 15-year-old last season, Prince Albert Mintos sophomore Kyrell Sopotyk was eager to build on that season only to see himself on the sideline for the first 27 games to injury.
He’s made up for lost time in his return as the Mintos have picked up three straight overtime victories. Their latest came on Thursday at the Art Hauser Centre with a 2-1 win over the Saskatoon Contacts in Sopotyk’s first game at the Art Hauser Centre this year. In Yorkton last weekend against the Maulers, Sopotyk scored the OT winner in Saturday’s 3-2 win and had four helpers in Sunday’s 4-3 extra time victory.
“It’s super exciting. People were waiting for me to come back and have a good first game back,” Sopotyk said. “It was exciting. I’m just trying to give the fans and the team what they were waiting for. It’s going my way so far.”
Although he was injured, Sopotyk was named the Mintos’ captain shortly after the season began and waited until his return to stitch a ‘C’ on his No. 12 jersey. Waiting to wear that captain’s sweater and return to the Mintos was the hardest part.