Kalen Wright is the new general manager of the Prince Albert Mintos. Submitted photo/Kalen Wright

By Jeff D'Andrea

Wright in the thick of it

Mintos make the Wright choice for their general manager

May 7, 2020 | 9:00 AM

Back in the 1999-2000 season, Kalen Wright played for his hometown Prince Albert Mintos. Now, he’s returned to the team in an executive position as the team’s general manager — a position that became official this week.

“It really is exciting for me. Since I’ve played for the team, this club and organization has taken huge strides in winning three national championships,” Wright said. “I think of it as the premier franchise of the league. It’s an awesome opportunity to work for them now.”

The position opened up this offseason when Don Fauchoux left the team on March 24, after serving 12 years as the team’s manager. Fauchoux was the team’s manager during the Mintos’ 2014 Telus Cup victory in Moose Jaw.

Wright reached out to Mintos head coach Danton Danielson to discuss the position, and they both ‘hit it off’. Eventually, the team’s board came together and offered the position to Wright.

Wright will effectively be taking over Fauchoux’s position, but will have the word ‘general’ added to it. Wright will be involved with player evaluation and recruitment, which is right up his alley. Wright’s been a Saskatchewan regional scout for the Victoria Royals of the WHL since 2013.

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“It’s my background. I’ve been doing that for a number of years with Victoria,” Wright said. “I enjoy the scouting and player recruitment part of it, so I made sure the manager position along with Danton and the coaching staff and the scouts we have on the road, that we could work together. I’m real excited about it. It should be fun.”

Wright will also be in charge of taking care of different logistics throughout the season of organization the team’s travels and meals, setting up camps, helping to set the schedule, and make overall preparations for the season.

After Wright played with the Mintos in the 1999-00 season, he moved on to play three years with the Melfort Mustangs in the SJHL from 2000-03. From there, Wright committed to Sacred Heart University, a NCAA Div. I school in Fairfield, Conn, and played four years there.

Under Danielson’s first year as head coach, the Mintos finished in sixth place with a 23-19-0-2 record, and lost to the Saskatoon Contacts in the first round of the playoffs.

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Jeff.dandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW