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The Prince Albert Mintos celebrate an Evan Skoronski goal earlier this season. (Logan Lehmann/paNOW)
Hockey

Weekend rink report: Mintos, Northern Bears each split weekend series; Timberjaks drop contest at home

Nov 3, 2024 | 6:01 PM

It was a busy slate on the ice for Prince Albert and area based teams.

Here’s how each team faired in their weekend matchups:

Mintos split weekend with Pat Canadians to remain atop standings

The Prince Albert Mintos retained first place in the Sask. Male AAA Hockey League (SMAAAHL) following their weekend split with the Regina Pat Canadians at the Art Hauser Centre.

Either contest proved why both teams are atop the standings in first and second respectively as both games were decided in overtime.

In game one on Saturday night, Brock Kolibab got the Mintos on the board first midway through the opening period, however, penalty trouble later in period cost P.A. the lead as Chase Surkan tied it on the man advantage.

The back-and-forth battle continued into the second with Kanyan Unger scoring just 17 seconds into the period to restore the Mintos lead. Then, just like in the first, more penalty troubles plagued P.A. as Boston Tait scored his first of the season on the power play to pull Regina back to even.

Following a scoreless third, Surkan played hero for the Pat Canadians in the overtime period, scoring with just five seconds left to take game one for Regina.

COMPLETE BOX SCORE (game one)

The goals came more often in game two on Sunday afternoon with Maddox Schultz and Surkan going back-to-back to put the Pat C’s up midway through the first.

The Mintos had some answers though with Connor Howe and Carter Bergen finding the back of the net to tie it back up with four minutes to play in the first. However, with 91 seconds to play, Schultz tallied his second of the frame to put Regina back up by one heading into the second stanza.

There, the lamp stayed dark for the majority of the period but P.A. pressed on. Shortly after Regina’s Dane Mansuy was called for hooking, Evan Skoronski capitalized on the power play making it three-all entering the third.

Just over 90 seconds into the final frame, the Mintos took the lead for the first time with Unger’s second of the contest which was followed by Reid Bechard pulling the Pat C’s back to even. Lincoln Rogers later regained the lead for P.A. with 7:44 remaining before the worst happened with less than a minute to play.

Prince Albert Raiders prospect Dayce Derkatch tied it up for Regina with 38 seconds to force overtime. That’s as close as the Pat Canadians would come to winning though, as Kelan Simmonds was the hero for P.A. in game two, scoring with 1:34 left on the clock to cap off a four-point outing.

Mintos netminder Jayden Blanchette took the loss in game one, making 36 saves while Josh Henry managed 47 saves in game two. Following the weekend, Prince Albert is still first in the SMAAAHL with a 10-4-2 (W-L-OTL) record and 22 points. Meanwhile, Regina sits one point back in the standings with a 10-1-1 record.

COMPLETE BOX SCORE (game two)

The Mintos return to action on Wednesday night when they host the Saskatoon Contacts for their first meeting of the season. Puck drop is slated for 7:00 p.m. at the Art Hauser Centre.

Northern Bears split set in Swift Current

Like the Mintos, the Mann-Northway Northern Bears also managed to split their weekend series.

The Bears were in Swift Current taking on the Wildcats where the home team caught P.A. flat footed to start game one.

Within the opening five minutes, Reese Kampen and Kaylee Williams scored just 30 seconds apart to swiftly put the Wildcats up by two.

The defence stood tall following the blunder as the lamp didn’t turn on again until the third period.

There, Marly Dumanski broke the ice for the Northern Bears midway through the period. Despite the late push, Prince Albert couldn’t manage to find another way past Ashley Vezeau as the P.A. native made 25 saves to hang on for the win.

COMPLETE BOX SCORE (game one)

Game two was a much different story as the Bears were firing on all cylinders.

After Dumanski scored in the first and Zoey Krienke scored in the second, Jersie Andersen made it 3-0 in the third with just under 13 minutes to play.

The Wildcats didn’t go down without a fight however, as Kyla Benjamin got Swift Current on the board late in the period. The Wildcats would pull the goalie in the final minute, but Mikiya Anderson potted an empty net goal to seal the 4-1 win for the Bears.

Goalie Nikita Krayetski managed 35 saves during the loss in game one, and Annika Neufeld made 27 saves to get the win in game two as the Northern Bears are now fourth in league standings with a 3-3-0-1 (W-L-OTL-SOL) record.

COMPLETE BOX SCORE (game two)

Prince Albert returns to the Art Hauser Centre for their next set of games, which is a two-game weekend series on Nov. 16 and 17 against the reigning National Champions Regina Rebels.

Timberjaks fall at home to Chiefs

The Prince Albert Timberjaks kicked off a home-and-home with the Delisle Chiefs on Friday at the Northern Regional Recreation Centre.

The Chiefs came in and took care of business, winning 12-3 highlighted by a six-goal second period.

Keethan Isbister had a pair of goals for P.A. in the loss while Leon Natomagan also found the back of the net. Isbister and Natomagan also tallied assists, as did Brendan Aug, Embry Roberts, and Tyrell Flodell.

In net, Brayden Lyons and Keegen Dansereau combined for 64 saves in the loss as the Timberjaks are now 4-6-0 (W-L-OTL) on the year.

COMPLETE BOX SCORE

Prince Albert is set to close out the home-and-home with the Chiefs on Wednesday night when they head to Delisle for an 8:00 p.m. start.

Elsewhere:

WHL – The Prince Albert Raiders fell to 4-8-2 (W-L-OTL) on the campaign following a 9-4 loss to the Swift Current Broncos on Friday. The Raiders are in Regina for their next matchup, facing off with the Pats on Wednesday night.

U18AA – The Lake Country Timberwolves contest against the Saskatoon Screaming Eagles on Saturday was postponed to a later date.

Twin Rivers Hockey League – WEEKEND RECAP

(Twin Rivers Hockey League)

loganc.lehmann@pattisonmedia.com

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