By Shane O'Neill

Mintos prep for holiday test in Calgary

Dec 23, 2016 | 4:00 PM

The holidays are a time when many go on vacation, and the Prince Albert Mintos are no different.

The Mintos are hoping to use their annual trip to the Mac’s Midget AAA International Tournament in Calgary to gel as a team and re-focus on the second half of their season back home.

Mintos scoring leader Logan Barlage, will be suiting up for what is likely his final Mac’s tournament and said it’s always an event the team looks forward to.

“It’s going to be fun,” he said. “I think it’s going to be a good opportunity for the guys to figure out what we need to do better and see what those good teams do and then play against them and hopefully out play them.”

Team manager, Don Fauchoux, said the squad is going into the Mac’s at less than 100 per cent.

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“Well truthfully, we’re going into the Mac’s pretty banged up. We’re leaving two defenceman at home, we’re going there short to begin with,” Fauchoux said regarding injured players Wyatt Arndt and Carsen Robertson. “Yeah, it’s probably not the best time to be going truthfully, but we’re committed.”

This year, the Mintos are in a pool with the Hungarian under-18 team. While not exactly a hockey superpower, the Hungarian team is made up of players who have been a part of the same program for a number of years and will feature players a year older than the Mintos.

Mintos captain Kyle Schneider, also playing in the Mac’s for the final time, is looking forward to the challenge.

“I’m pretty excited, we played Belarus last year and it was pretty cool playing an international team. I don’t know what they’ll have to offer but it will be interesting to see and I’m excited to play them,” he said.

Fauchoux knows the game will present a challenge for the team.

“Oh it’s going to be a chore,” Fauchoux said. “It’s under 18 also, so they’ll be a 17-year-old group. Yeah, we’re expecting a very tough game.”

In the preliminary round, the Mintos play Dec. 26 against the Leduc Oil Kings, Dec. 27 against Hungary U18, Dec. 28 against the New Jersey Hitmen, and Dec. 29 against the Calgary Flames.

shane.oneill@panow.com

On Twitter: @stroneill