Barlage’s shootout winner lifts Mintos 5-4 over Trojans

“You could say it’s luck, but also it was a good move to get the goalie to open up. I was hoping it would go in for him, you like to see them young guys [score].”

Early projections on Barlage suggest he could be a Top 3 pick in the 2016 WHL Bantam Draft, according to Western Elite Hockey Prospects. Cael Zimmerman, Barlage’s teammate in Humboldt last year and his linemate in Sunday’s game, could also be a first round pick.

Despite both were first-year bantams last year, Barlage finished eighth overall in SBAAHL scoring with 35 goals and 62 points in 31 games. Zimmerman finished in 15^th with 21 goals and 44 points in 31 games.

“Zimmerman and Barlage are two top-end guys, they’re going to get drafted pretty high this year,” said Leonard. “We want to get them into some exhibition games here and hopefully they’ll feel comfortable in the dressing room and about being Mintos in the future.

There is already a lot of excitement surrounding the two young players but in all likelihood, they’ll play their full seasons with the Humboldt Broncos Bantam AA team and only come up for some occasional call-up duty. The Mintos are hoping for the 2016-2017 season that they’ll commit to their team.

“We can AP them, but we want to be careful with that too. We want to do the right things by them, sit down with the families and make sure,” said Leonard. “Some of them want to AP back home in Humboldt just because it’s a five-minute drive compared to a four-and-half, five-hour round trip—you gotta understand that.

“The big thing is you want to sell your program. I’m glad [Barlage] scored. Him and Zimmerman, I hope to see them in Minto uniforms next winter and this year, if we can AP them, we could use them in some games too.”

The Trojans got the first three goals of the game from Taylor Schmidt and Elliot Grande-Sherbert in the first period, and Colby Brandt early in the second.

Matthew Georget gave the Mintos some life with a goal midway through the second period. Dillon Zuck made it a one-goal game midway through the third with a goal of his own. With 4:26 left, Owen Ozar buried a rebound to tie the game at 3-3.

Grande-Sherbert scored a one-timer on a 2-on-1 rush to put the Trojans up 4-3 late in the third period.

Tyson Meyers tied the game after some battling in front of the net with 42.5 seconds left as the Mintos pulled their goalie for the extra attacker. The Mintos won the shootout 2-1, with Brandt Bertoia scoring on a gorgeous backhand move and Logan Barlage.

Derrick Hucul played the first 40 minutes and returned for the shootout. He made 23 saves on 26 shots in regulation, and 2-3 in the shootout. Steven Soyko made four saves on five shots in the third and overtime periods.

The Mintos next home contest is Sept. 22, 7 p.m. against the Beardy’s Blackhawks at the Art Hauser Centre. Before then, they’ll hit the road three times, Tuesday in Beardy’s, Friday in Tisdale and Sunday in Saskatoon to take on the Blazers.

The first regular season game for the Mintos is Sept. 27 against the Notre Dame Hounds.

jdandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_dandrea

by Jeff D'Andrea

Barlage’s shootout winner lifts Mintos 5-4 over Trojans

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