Mintos look for improvement in upcoming season

Last season the Mintos finished in the middle of the pack with a 23-18-3-0 record, enough to make the playoffs as a seven-seed. There, PA reached the end of the road when they were swept in the first round against the Regina Pat Canadians in three straight games.

Many familiar faces from last year will don the green and gold once again this year, something that Leonard said he’s looking forward to seeing on the bench.

“We went young last year and now everybody is a year older – little bigger, little stronger,” he said. “They developed as a group and we got a good core back. We got a good group of kids and I’m really happy with that. We expect good things this season.”

He added a number of Minto players from last season were attending WHL camps earlier this month with some still with those teams ahead of PA’s season opener.

One of those players not on the opening night roster for the Mintos is leading scorer from last season Logan Pickford, who is still with the Victoria Royals at the time of this article’s publication. With him in B.C.’s capital is netminder Jayden Kraus who has since earned a spot on the Royals roster. Another Minto from last season who won’t be returning is forward Ashton Tait who will spend this year with the Kamloops Blazers.

Leonard also said the green and gold are gaining a veteran presence back between the pipes as goalie Brady Holtvogt is returning home from Prince George Cougars camp.

The season officially gets underway this weekend as the Mintos gear up to host the Pat Canadians for a weekend doubleheader. Game one is Saturday at 1:30 p.m. while game two is Sunday afternoon also at 1:30 p.m. Both games will be played at the Art Hauser Centre.

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loganc.lehmann@pattisonmedia.com

by Logan Lehmann

Mintos look for improvement in upcoming season

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