By Jeff D'Andrea

Mintos thrash Blackhawks 6-1 in first road win

Oct 17, 2014 | 7:28 AM

Beardy’s— After two years of playing in the Willow Cree Memorial Sport Centre for the Beardy’s Blackhawks, Thursday marked the first chance Reed Gunville to come back as a visitor.

He didn’t disappoint as Gunville scored a goal and two assists to lead his Prince Albert Mintos to a 6-1 victory over the Blackhawks.

It was a big game for Gunville on a number of different levels, especially emotion-wise.

“I didn’t think (my emotions) wouldn’t get too high coming in, but after we got up 2-0, it got kinda chippy and emotions were running pretty high—Tim had to calm me down a few times,” laughed Gunville about the in-game counselling he got from Mintos head coach Tim Leonard. “It was good, yeah.”

Adam Hergott, like Gunville is a P.A. product but also played with the Blackhawks last year, had a big performance as well. Hergott registered three assists in the victory from the blueline.

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First roadie

Thursday’s win was the Mintos’ first road win of the season in their fourth try. Minus Tuesday’s 5-0 blowout loss to the Tisdale Trojans, the Mintos were as close as you could be in their two previous away games.

They suffered a 3-2 overtime loss against the Moose Jaw Generals on Oct. 5, after blowing a 4-1 lead to lose 5-4 in a shootout Oct. 4 against the Regina Pat Canadians.

“It was about time,” said defenceman Brody Reimer, who scored his first goal of the season on Thursday. “We were ready to get that first road win under our belt.

“It was nice to get that out of the way.”

A day prior to Thursday’s game, the Mintos named 17-year-old Reimer their captain.

“It was a real honour when Tim told us yesterday before practice that I was wearing the ‘C’ this year,” said Reimer. “I want to try to lead this team as best I can.

“I have some great alternate captains too.”

Assisting Reimer with the leadership duties are defenceman Matthew Parsons and forwards Reed Gunville and Kody White.

Game Summary

The Mintos got two goals in the first period from Brett Harasymuk, including a power play marker with just 3.7 seconds left in the opening frame.

Mintos forward Reed Gunville made it 3-0 in the second period, before Brody Reimer made it 4-0 with just two seconds left heading into the final frame.

Early in the third period, the Blackhawks finally got one past Mintos goaltender Taylor Unruh on their 28th shot, as Josh Sielsky beat him to make it a 4-1 game. That’s all they would get on Unruh as he was excellent, making 38 saves on 39 shots.

Scoring late for the Mintos were Josh Roberts, and Keegan Tiringer, who picked up his first career Midget AAA goal.

The Blackhawks’ record falls to 2-2 after the loss.

Looking ahead

The Mintos (3-1-2) have two home games this weekend, Saturday against the Notre Dame Hounds and Sunday against the Regina Pat Canadians. Both games start at 1:30 p.m. at the Art Hauser Centre.

jdandrea@panow.com

On Twitter: @jeff_dandrea