Mintos riding Pyne’s early goal streak; Mintos 3 Blazers 1

• Share on Facebook
• Share on Bluesky
• Share on X
• Copy Link

“He’s a horse,” said Mintos head coach Tim Leonard. “I wasn’t sure about him at the spring camp and then the fall camp he came in and his boots are a lot better. The kid can skate, I tell you what. He’s a big rig. When he learns to drive that wall and take pucks to the net, he’s going to be a handful.

better reporting

Sask. Health Authority directed to report ER service disruptions more frequently

2h ago

Babies at risk

Whooping cough exposure at Victoria Hospital

2h ago

They're hungry

Black bears expected to be more active after long winter

4h ago

“He’s just gaining experience and confidence. You can see it, I think you’ll see him getting better every game.”

Pyne is just glad that he didn’t have to go too long with a goose egg beside his name.

“It’s nice to get them out of the way,” said Pyne. “It’s a bonus, you work hard. Keep working with the team, a couple points is nice here.”

Pyne, who hails from White City, was drafted by the Seattle Thunderbirds in the third round of the 2015 WHL Bantam Draft. He signed with the Thunderbirds on Sept. 11 while with them during the preseason.

“It was good to go play a few games there to get the feel for that level,” said Pyne. “It was fast, then you’re coming back here. It was a good experience.

“The coaching was great and I learned lots.”

Summary

Mintos captain Erik Gardiner kicked off the scoring midway through the first period, followed up 40 seconds later by Pyne to make it 2-0.

Riley Sawchuk extended the lead to 3-0 by burying a wrist shot on a shorthanded rush early in the second period. That’s his second of the year.

Blazers captain Landon Markovich, who hails from Prince Albert, got the Blazers back in the game and cut the Mintos lead to 3-1 heading into the third. That’s how the game would end after a scoreless third.

Markovich’s blast from the point is the only Blazers’ goal in their first two games, as they were saddled with a 4-0 defeat in their opener against the Moose Jaw Generals on Saturday.

Last year as a 15-year-old rookie, Markovich led the Blazer defencemen in scoring with 22 points through 41 games, while also finishing fourth in overall team scoring. He’s also a ninth round pick of the Calgary Hitmen in the 2014 WHL Bantam Draft.

Markovich isn’t the only one as two other Blazers defencemen have local ties. Like Markovich, 15-year-old rookie Ryan Hordal hails from Prince Albert.  Ashton Heidt was a sixth round pick of the Prince Albert Raiders in 2014.

Missing Mintos

Even though they’re only in their second game of the year, the Mintos were shorthanded four of their regulars—Jake Hobson and Maguire Blair to injury, and Keegan Tiringer and Matthew Georget to suspension.

Hobson (hamstring) left the Mintos’ opener on Sunday, but Leonard expects him to be in the lineup for the Mintos’ next game. Blair (collarbone) should also be ready for upcoming road trip, but the Mintos don’t want to rush him.

Tiringer and Georget both received checking from behind penalties in the final 10 minutes of Sunday’s game, and served their one-game suspensions by sitting for Thursday’s game.

“I thought it was a pretty good challenge with four guys out of the lineup,” said Leonard. “Guys stepped up and filled in. It was a pretty good effort.”

Road trippin’

The Mintos play their next three games on the road, Oct. 6 against the Saskatoon Contacts, Oct. 10 against the Regina Pat Canadians and Oct. 11 against the Moose Jaw Generals.

The Mintos will then return home for a three-game stand against the Tisdale Trojans Oct. 15, the Notre Dame Argos Oct. 17 and the Regina Pat Canadians on Oct. 18.

jdandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_dandrea