By Jeff D'Andrea

Morrison’s Mintos split weekend in coach’s season debut

Feb 7, 2016 | 3:25 PM

A lot has happened since the first time Ken Morrison coached the Prince Albert Mintos. The last time Morrison coached a game that counted, his team won the longest game in Telus Cup history to win the national championship April 27, 2014. 

When Morrison returned behind the Mintos’ bench this weekend for the first time, he inherited a much different situation.

After spending the first half of the year fighting for the top spot in the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League, the Prince Albert Mintos have fallen from grace.

They came into Sunday’s game on a six-game losing streak, while being outscored 31-6.

The Mintos were able to stop the bleeding with a 5-4 shootout win over the Notre Dame Argos Sunday, a day after losing 5-2 in Morrison’s season debut to the Notre Dame Hounds at the Art Hauser Centre.

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Morrison and new assistant coach Shawn Phaneuf have only been with the team since Thursday, replacing Tim Leonard and Todd Becker who parted ways with the Mintos on Jan. 29.

It may take some time to get used to on another, but Morrison said he saw a big difference in only a day.

“[Saturday] was kind of struggle but today felt more comfortable I think, for us as a coaching staff and probably for the boys, too,” said Morrison. “You come in and you’re brand new, but I’m getting to know the boys pretty quick. It doesn’t take long.

“I’m excited. We got the opportunity if we make the playoffs to compete and see what happens.”

It’s not like the Mintos don’t have talent on their side. They have two forwards ranked in the SMAAAHL top five in scoring  with Erik Gardiner (tied for first in points with 52, first in assists with 36) and Riley Sawchuk (fourth in points with 47, second in goals with 24). Jake Hobson also has 34 points, tied for among SMAAAHL defencemen with Saskatoon Blazers’ Landon Markovich (Prince Albert product). The leader in that department is Tisdale Trojans defenceman Josh McDougall, who’s also from P.A.

But Morrison said the best way to use their talent is to give every player a chance to contribute in their own way with more balanced playing time.

“We want to have a team identity and everybody feeling like they’re important to the team,” said Morrison. “Everybody’s playing and everybody’s got to find a role where they feel like they’re contributing. That’s what we want to do.

“We’ll use a couple lines on the power play and a couple lines on the penalty kill and experimented a little bit this weekend. That’s the big thing, to build a little chemistry and get everybody involved.”

Morrison did say that he wanted his team’s discipline to be cleaned up a little.  

Of the nine penalties the Mintos took, the only one that occurred in their own zone was Jake Hobson’s roughing call after the whistle—the first of two three penalties for him in the game.

Mintos forward Braden Isbister scored the game-winner in the shootout in Sunday’s victory over the Argos, a nice backhanded move through the wickets of Argos goaltender Ashton Abel. Isbister also had a goal and an assist in regulation time.

Mintos captain Erik Gardiner had a goal, three assist night, while Riley Sawchuk pitched in a goal and an assist. Jake Hobson had the other Mintos’ goal.

Artem Chupin, Jacob Arsenault, Everett Hicks (shorthanded) and Dylan Soosay all scored for the Argos.

They’ll host the Beardy’s Blackhawks for their next game on Thursday at the Art Hauser Centre, their first of five remaining games.

jdandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_dandrea