By Jeff D'Andrea

Hobson with four assists in Mintos win over Blackhawks

Nov 28, 2015 | 3:07 PM

The Prince Albert Mintos defenceman Jake Hobson already came into Saturday’s game with the most points among Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League defenceman. He made it even tougher for the rest of blueliners to catch him.

Hobson had four assists in a 5-3 win over the Beardy’s Blackhawks at the Art Hauser Centre.

Hobson now has 21 points in 18 games, ranking 11^th overall in league scoring and is the only defenceman ranked in the Top 25.

Three of his assists came on the power play, which was 3-8 in the game. That’s a big improvement from their two games last week in Notre Dame, going 1-10 combined in a 6-1 loss to the Hounds and 3-2 shootout loss to the Argos.

“We had a good bounce back today,” said Hobson. “We had a lot of movement and stuck pucks through and did a job in front. We kept putting pucks in.”

Missing pet

'She means the world to our family': Woman seeks help in finding missing pet parrot

16h ago

BE CAREFUL ON THE ROADS

Semi flips outside P.A.; one of dozens of incidents on Sask. roads due to winter weather

16h ago

NO GO FOR BUSES

School bus routes outside P.A. canceled due to spring snowstorm

21h ago

The Mintos are now 14-4-1 on the year, behind only the Moose Jaw Generals in the SMAAAHL league standings.

Scoring summary

It was a crazy first period as both teams traded goals, but the Minto swere somehow on top with a 3-2 lead after the first period. Mintos forward Maguire Blair got the first one, tipping home a high bouncing puck just below the crossbar for the 1-0 lead.

Just 58 seconds later, Tian Rask tied the game on the power play, chopping a low bouncing puck into the top corner. Just after the midway point of the first, the Mintos restored the lead courtesy of a Braden Isbister tip off a Jake Hobson point shot.

Less than minutes after that, Blackhawks forward Clayton McKenzie tied the game for the Blackhawks, after Jared Hamm won a battle behind the Mintos net to feed McKenzie the puck.

Before the period ended, Mintos forward Kyle Schneider scored his first Midget AAA goal after an excellent cross-ice pass from linemate Brandt Bertoia. The Mintos led 3-2 after the first period.

Riley Sawchuk scored the lone goal of the second period, his 16^th to give the Mintos a 4-2 lead heading into the third period.

Carter Sawatsky got the Blackhawks back in the game and he pounded one in the back of the net to make it a 4-3 game midway through the third period. Erik Gardiner scored on the power play for an important insurance goal to make it a 5-3 final.

Derrick Hucul picked up his 11^th win on the season, making 29 saves. Rookie goaltender Shaemus McLeod did all he could in goal for the Blackhawks, making 34 saves.

Braden Isbister finished the game with three points, his goal and two assists.

Looking ahead

The Mintos play their next three games on the road, Tuesday against the Battlefords Stars, Saturday against the Notre Dame Hounds and Sunday against the Notre Dame Argos. Their next home game is Dec. 8 against the Saskatoon Blazers.

jdandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_dandrea