By Drew Wilson

Mintos look to the Pirates for next season

Apr 26, 2011 | 7:26 AM

The Prince Albert Mintos will open defense of their Saskatchewan Midget AAA hockey championship this fall with some familiar faces in the lineup.

The stable of 15-year-old rookies will include five members of the Provincial Bantam Champion PA Venice House Pirates.

Forwards Ryan Duret, Miles Warkentine and Lance Yaremchuk will be joined by defensemen Bryton Sayers and Jordan Harris.

Duret led the team and the Centre 4 Bantam AA league in scoring with 53 goals and 109 points.
Warkentine fired 33 goals and 37 assists while Yaremchuk lit the lamp 41 times, while adding 28 helpers on an offensive powerhouse that scored 249 goals in just 24 games.

Local players are the foundation of the franchise and help at the gate, said General Manager Don Fauchoux.

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“I think it's quite important actually, we do have a lot of fans and that keeps the fans more interested, the more (Prince Albert) kids we have on the team the better … that's for darned sure.”

They are also among an impressive group of Prince Albert boys eligible for the WHL draft on May 5 in Calgary.

The 2010-11 Mintos captured a third provincial championship in the last six years and Fauchoux feels the group they are putting together for next season will be similar.

“We are going to be a little young next year, but young doesn't mean lacking talent. I believe we are going to be very good next year.”

The Mintos are also bidding for the 2014 Telus Cup National championship tournament. They are the only Midget AAA franchise to win back to back Canadian championships in 2006 and 2007. The Mintos have a perfect 14-0 record in the tournament.

dwilson@rawlco.com