By Brent Bosker

Mintos are champions

Mar 19, 2011 | 9:58 PM

A third Saskatchewan Midget AAA championship banner will hang from the rafters at the Art Hauser Centre (AHC). The Prince Albert Mintos swept the best-of-five provincial final Saturday at the AHC with a 3-2 win over the Saskatoon Contacts.

Adam Fauchoux, Tad Kozan and Jasen Duret staked the Mintos to a 3-0 lead after two periods. The Contacts came alive in the third with two goals from Taylor Reich making for a tense finish.

Mintos goalie, Dawson MacAuley, rose to the occasion when it mattered most. He blocked 39 shots, 22 in the third period alone, to back stop P.A. to their first provincial championship since 2007 – the same year they went on to win their second straight Telus Cup.

“It’s kind of overwhelming right now because a lot of people didn’t expect it and we’ve proved a lot of people wrong. This group, when they decided that they wanted to get ’er done, they took care of things,” Tim Leonard, Mintos head coach, said.

He said it was a pleasure to coach this group of players.

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Leonard has been the coach for all three Saskatchewan Midget AAA championships.

“The first one was probably the most exciting, because that was the first time for me but you know they’re all similar teams. We’re not blessed with a super star but we’ve got a lunch bucket brigade and when they bring it were tough to beat,” Leonard said.

P.A will now represent Saskatchewan later this month in Western Regionals in Moose Jaw. The winner of regionals moves on to the Telus Cup in St John's Newfoundland.

For more photos of the game and celebrations: Mintos take the provincial title

SCORING SUMMARY:

PERIOD 1

Prince Albert Mintos at 10:12 – Adam Fauchoux from Jordan Tkatch and Landon Belchamber

PERIOD 2

Prince Albert Mintos at 11:47 – Tad Kozun from Brennen Bosovich and Tyson Dallman
Prince Albert Mintos at 1:16 – Jason Duret from Matt Anholt

PERIOD 3

Saskatoon Contacts at 15:43 – Taylor Reich from Cody Pettapiece and Craig Leverton
Saskatoon Contacts at 5:59 (PP) – Taylor Reich from Craig Leverton and Colby Harmsworth

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