Mintos camp signals the start of AAA hockey season

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A total of 65 players hit the ice this weekend and were split into four teams. Camp began Friday afternoon with a practice, followed by three games for each team, with two on Saturday and one more on Sunday to wrap up camp. 

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With this season being his first at the AAA level, Bourdon said he’s feeling right at home. 

“It’s always great being around the rink, I mean, I’ve lived my whole life around hockey. It’s great to see new faces, some faces that I used to play with back when I was [younger]. They have kids at this age, and they’re bringing them here now to try out for the team. It’s good to catch up.” 

Bourdon isn’t the only new face to management as the team underwent a complete overhaul of their coaching staff. 

Longtime name in the Prince Albert hockey scene Tyson Dallman was brought on as the new head coach of the team following the departure of Dion Antisen, who held the role for just one season. Joining Dallman behind the bench are new assistant coaches Colten Smith and Jason Duret, who replace Brian Glynn and Chase Friedt-Mohr. The Mintos also appointed Bob Braybrook as their new mental health advisor and performance coach, and Duane Neudorf as the new team pastor. 

Speaking to paNOW, Dallman said he has high expectations in terms of how the team prepares and competes on the ice this season. 

“That’s going to be a big focus for us, is getting it to a level where I believe we feel comfortable with our compete,” he explained. “From there, we’ll kind of see and work out what we have to do in terms of our tactics and the technical stuff. But first and foremost, it’s going to be back to making sure we’re working at the rate that I think we need to.” 

Dallman rejoins the Mintos after serving as an assistant coach for two seasons from 2019-2021, behind then head coach Danton Danielson. In 2024, he took on head coaching duties for the U15 AA Prince Albert Pirates before serving as a scout for the BCHL’s Victoria Grizzlies in 2025. Then, last season, he returned to the Pirates as the head coach where he guided the team to their first provincial championship in 15 years. 

He also played for the Mintos for three seasons from 2008-2011, where he netted 65 points (27G-38A) in 108 games, along with nine playoff points (2G-7A) in 14 postseason appearances.

When asked what it’s like joining a team with an all-new coaching staff, Dallman said “it’s nice”. 

“I’ve known our management staff for a while and the coaching staff I’ve known for a little while. We’re familiar with one another and I think our personalities will mesh well. We have a lot of experience, I think, in terms of being around coaching locally, which is nice, [and] we have a grasp on the players who are around our area.” 

The Mintos are looking to get back into the playoffs this season after failing to make it last year, which ended a postseason run of more than 20 years and marked the first time since 2005 that the team missed out.  

For Bourdon, he’s looking to get the team back to their former glory as one of the premier teams in the Sask. Male AAA Hockey League (SMAAAHL), which he said won’t happen overnight. 

“I think first, before we make any really big goals, and this is something that Tyson and I are very much on the same page with, is we have to make sure that we have a good culture in the room. We’re going to try to win in the dressing room first, and we hope that that translates onto the ice. Now, this team has a very good record of being very successful in the past and we want to get back to those winning ways, and we want to make sure that for these players that our first goal is to get back into the playoffs. Not just to get into the playoffs, but to succeed in the playoffs.” 

The first game back for the Mintos will be an exhibition contest against the Saskatoon Contacts at the Art Hauser Centre, slated for Sept. 16. The first regular season contest is slated for Sept. 23, when the Mintos welcome the Battlefords Stars to Prince Albert for a 7 p.m. puck drop. 

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loganc.lehmann@pattisonmedia.com