Blair the Mintos’ OT hero over Generals; Raider prospect Fonstad with 2 pts

With 2:46 gone in the extra frame, Blair crashed the net and scored after getting a cross-crease feed from Brandt Bertoia.

“Right before we were going out, ‘Bert’ was looking at me and said ‘you’re getting your first one,’” said Blair, the 17-year-old rookie. “All of a sudden, I see him beat the guy to the puck, using his speed and comes around that net. I’m yelling for it, and he put it right on the tape. Anyone could have scored that, he just put it right there.

“It was hard to come to the rink every day and just sit in the stands, and watch the guys do what they love to do. It’s good to be back on the ice, I’m just loving it now here in P.A. It’s just awesome.”

Mintos head coach Tim Leonard was impressed with how Blair dealt with his injury while recovering, especially with his goal, two assist night against one of the best teams in the province.

“He’s battled through it and he’s stayed positive. Hats off to him for playing a tough, grinding game where he’s a little out of shape,” said Leonard. “He got his nose in there and banged in the winner. We’re happy for him and he’s pretty pumped.”

The Mintos have captain Erik Gardiner to thank for getting that game into overtime in the first place. With 1:34 left in the game and goaltender Derrick Hucul pulled, Gardiner backhanded one in to tie it late and force OT. Like Blair, Gardiner also finished with a goal and two assists.

Riley Sawchuk had two goals for the Mintos, Taylor Kreutzer had the other.

Raiders prospect Fonstad off to promising start

The Prince Albert Raiders might have known what they were doing when they drafted Cole Fonstad fifth overall in the 2015 WHL Bantam Draft.

Fonstad leads the Generals, one of the best teams in the league, in scoring with 12 points in 10 games played. He’s also currently on a five-game point streak, netting nine points in that span.

He added two points on Saturday against the Mintos, setting up Tanner Manz on a 2-on-1 in the first period, before tapping home a bouncing puck at the side of the end with just two seconds left in the second period.

Although he did score to give the Generals the lead heading into the third, the goal was erroneously awarded to Fonstad’s linemate Tyson Manz, giving Fonstad the second-assist on the goal instead.

“I just hit it out of the air, but don’t matter to me. It’s fine,” said Fonstad.

What did matter was his return to the Art Hauser Centre for the first time since Raider camp.

“It’s really exciting to come back here, even in warmups to getting on the ice felt really good,” said Fonstad. “It’s nice to know that I might be here in a couple years.”

Fonstad admitted he had a “slow” start to the year, but still managed two goals and three points in his first five games. But after getting his feed wet, the points have been a plenty for Fonstad.

“I started to use my speed wide to play with the bigger guys,” said Fonstad. “I started a little timid, but now I’m starting to get my confidence going.”

The last time the two teams met on Oct. 11, the Generals stomped on the Mintos 7-0 at Mosaic Place in Moose Jaw.

The Mintos will face the Battlefords Stars on Nov. 1 at the Art Hauser Centre, before hosting the Tisdale Trojans on Nov. 5.

Fonstad and the Generals are scheduled to return to the Art Hauser Centre until the last weekend of the regular season. They’ll visit on Feb. 20.

Carson Miller, the other Raiders first rounder of the 2015 draft, and his Yorkton Maulers will make their first visit on Dec. 13.

jdandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_dandrea

by Jeff D'Andrea

Blair the Mintos’ OT hero over Generals; Raider prospect Fonstad with 2 pts

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