The Prince Albert Mintos celebrate one of their seven goals in a big win over the Notre Dame Hounds at the Lake Country Co-op Leisure Centre on Feb. 14, 2026. (Image Credit: Logan Lehmann/paNOW Staff)

By Logan Lehmann

End of the Road

Mintos end year with a win while Timberjaks swept in playoffs

Feb 25, 2026 | 10:32 AM

Both the Prince Albert Mintos and Timberjaks are clearing out their lockers this week after their seasons came to an end. 

The Mintos played their final regular season game on Monday night and finished on a high note with a win, while the Timberjaks were swept in back-to-back games during the opening round of the Prairie Junior Hockey League (PJHL) playoffs over the weekend. 

Playing on the road, the Mintos were in Tisdale to take on the Trojans where Prince Albert blanked the home team 2-0 behind a 56-save performance from Jaden Blanchette. Barret Berger and Madden Dell had the goals, while Burke Whitter and Liam Myhre tallied the assists.  

This season was the first in over 20 years where the Mintos failed to qualify for a playoff spot, ending the year in tenth with a 14-24-4-2 (W-L-OTL-SOL) record. Mintos head coach Dion Antisin said despite that, the season showed a lot of promise for what’s in store in the years to come. 

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“We came into this season knowing there were going to be limits on this year, just with being the second least experienced team to start the year and the second youngest team. We knew that there was going to be growing pains and some challenges in our way. With young players, you’re going to have growing pains where they don’t do those things every night, but for the most of the year, they did do the right things and battled hard and gave us chances to win most games. I think next year is going to be a huge step forward.” 

Additionally, the Mintos have five graduating players on their roster this season, including forwards Cruz Stacey and Carter Wingert, defenceman and captain Barret Berger, and both goaltenders in Blanchette and Wyatt Nelson.  

“Well, I mean, 17-year-olds in this league, they’re amazing because they’ve, been around, they’ve played the game long enough, they know what is going to bring a team success.” 

“From our forwards, Cruz and Wingert, every night they put in 100 per cent effort and just showed the young guys how to battle, how to play, and what’s going to give those guys success. On the back end, Berger was a veteran player, our captain, vocal, was a really great guy for the young guys to see what a leader is and do those things that maybe they haven’t seen at the younger levels. And then both our goalies being 17, I think they averaged probably 40 to 45 shots against a game and always gave us a chance to be in it.” 

Meanwhile, the Timberjaks wrapped up the year on Sunday following their playoff series loss to the Saskatoon Royals. P.A. dropped a 2-1 decision on Friday night in Saskatoon, before falling 3-1 on Sunday in Buckland at the Northern Regional Rec Centre. 

The Jaks narrowly clinched a playoff spot as the last team in, edging out Carrot River by one win to finish with a 15-25-2 (W-L-OTL) record. The berth marked the third time Prince Albert has made the postseason in their three-year history. 

Timberjaks head coach and general manager Stef Corfmat echoed Antisin, saying he’s eager to drop the puck on next season. 

“We were a pretty young team, so really happy with the young guys we have. We’re looking forward to next year as we should have a pretty good team.” 

Unlike the Mintos, Corfmat said the Jaks are set to lose a number of players next year, although they have a pretty good pipeline of players coming in from around the area. 

The Jaks have yet to make it past the Survivors Series as in their inaugural year in 2024, they fell 2-1 to the Saskatoon Westleys. They dropped the opening round again in 2025, this time to the Delisle Chiefs, 2-1. 

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loganc.lehmann@pattisonmedia.com