(Logan Lehmann/paNOW Staff)

By Nolan Kowal

One win away

Mintos looking to wrap up weather-interrupted series against Swift Current

Mar 5, 2024 | 12:00 PM

Spending most of a night on a bus hasn’t deterred the Prince Albert Mintos from controlling their playoff series against the Swift Current Legionnaires.

The best of three AAA first round playoff series continues Tuesday night in Swift Current, with the Mintos holding a 2-0 series edge. P.A. won Game 1 in Swift Current 4-3 on Saturday, before prevailing by that same score in Game 2 in Prince Albert on Monday.

The second game of the series was originally scheduled for Sunday evening at the Art Hauser Centre, but a major snowstorm over the weekend that has affected most of Saskatchewan forced the game to be postponed until Monday.

As well, the Mintos were forced to spend most of Saturday night/Sunday morning on their bus as they attempted to return home to P.A. following Saturday’s Game 1 victory in Swift Current during the storm.

“We had a crazy go there…we got stuck in Rosetown there Saturday night, spent the night in the bus, made sure everyone was safe and sound,” said Mintos Head Coach Tim Leonard. “Headed out in the morning when the plows got out and made it home Sunday.”

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“It was a first for me,” he added.

The Mintos now have a chance to wrap up the series if they can win Game 3 on the road.

“We played pretty good on the road. It’s going to be tough…they’re well-coached and they have a good goalie,” Leonard said. “But we’re going to go down there with the mindset of let’s get it done, and hopefully we’ll have a good game there tonight,” Leonard said.

The Mintos finished fifth in the standings during the regular season while the Legionnaires were the higher seed in fourth spot. The remainder of the Saskatchewan Male AAA Hockey League playoffs will all consist of best-of-five series.

“This league is probably the best I’ve seen it in all the years I’ve been around,” Leonard said. “Everybody can beat everybody, so there’s going to be some good playoff games and hopefully we can get by this one and tackle that next one.”

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nolan.kowal@pattisonmedia.com