By Jeff D'Andrea

Six local hockey players heading to Canada Winter Games

Dec 5, 2014 | 4:46 PM

Jake Hobson and Riley Sawchuk have a whole lot in common.

They are both 15-year-old rookies with the Prince Albert Mintos that are from Prince Albert, were teammates last year in bantam and were drafted this year in the WHL Bantam Draft by American teams. Hobson went to the Portland Winterhawks in the third round, while Sawchuk went the Tri-City Americans in the sixth.

Now they have something else in common. Both will be representing Team Saskatchewan’s Under-16 team at the Canada Winter Games Feb. 13- March 1 in Prince George, B.C., along with fellow 15-year-old Minto Erik Gardiner.

And it’s no surprise they’re both excited about it.

“It’s great, it’s an honour,” said Hobson. “It’s going to be a great experience and hopefully we’ll do good.”

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Despite being a 15-year-old rookie, Hobson has been thrown right into the fire this year with the Mintos, getting top-pair minutes with 17-year-old Adam Hergott and top-unit power play time. He’s flourished with the opportunity as Hobson is ranked fifth in points among Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League defencemen with 14 points in 21 games—which also leads the Mintos defence crew.

Hobson has had quite the mentor coaching him throughout minor hockey in his father Doug, who was a defenceman on the 1985 Memorial Cup winning Raiders club. Doug coached his son last year with the Prince Albert Bantam Venice House Raiders.

“He taught me a lot over the years,” said Hobson. “It’s been good having him.”

Hobson said he’s liked the change in working with the Mintos coaching staff, headed by Tim Leonard and co-coach Todd Becker.

So has Riley Sawchuk, who has really come on in the month of November. Six of Sawchuk’s nine points this season came in November as he and linemate Chase Tippett started to click.

“I started off rough, but I’m finally starting to get more comfortable,” said Sawchuk, who led the SBAAHL with 42 goals and in second 72 points last season. “I’ve started to get into it a little more.

“I’m getting more comfortable in our d-zone, getting more relaxed with the puck and I’m getting better at protecting myself.”

Erik Gardiner, a second round draft choice by the Regina Pats, has 20 points in 21 games this season, which leads the league in 15-year-old scorers and is tied for second on the Mintos’ scoring list.

Don’t forget about Markovich

Prince Albert’s Landon Markovich is also heading to the Canada Winter Games with Team Saskatchewan. Markovich is a defenceman on the Saskatoon Blazers with 10 points in 19 games, second on the team in defence scoring. He was a ninth round draft choice by the Calgary Hitmen in the 2014 WHL Bantam Draft.

The Blazers will be in town Dec. 11 to take on the Mintos at the Art Hauser Centre.

Or the Bears

On the female side, Hobson’s cousin Brooke Hobson will be representing Team Saskatchewan’s Female Under-18 squad, along with star goaltender Jessica Vance.

Vance currently owns four Saskatchewan Female Midget AAA Hockey League records, including shutouts (13), wins (41), games played (82) and minutes played (4,590).

Blueliner Hobson has seven points in 13 games this season, coming off a 13-goal, 20 point season last year.

Karlee Fetch stopping everything

Saskatoon Stars goaltender Karlee Fetch, who’s from Prince Albert, was named the SFMAAAHL First Star for the month of November. Fetch posted four wins, three shutouts and just 0.50 goals against average for the month. Fetch is 6-0 on the season for the first place Saskatoon Stars.

jdandrea@panow.com

On Twitter: @jeff_dandrea