Mintos continue to be fueled by Humboldt’s bantam program

There could be more coming. Although Logan Barlage won’t be Midget AAA-aged until the 2016-2017 season, he’s been in the Mintos’ plans for a while. Western Elite Hockey Prospects have projected Barlage as a Top 3 draft pick in the 2016 WHL Bantam Draft and could play with the Mintos for the 2016-2017 season—maybe even as soon as this season. Fellow 2001-born Broncos point machine Cael Zimmerman is also in Mintos’ camp, after scoring 44 points in 31 games as a first-year bantam.

Oh, and current Montreal Canadiens goaltender Dustin Tokarski, he also made the move from the Broncos to the Mintos.

http://panow.com/article/501161/mintos-may-have-found-themselves-beauty-barlage

“[The Broncos] got a great organization there, from where I am,” said Poncelet, a Humboldt native. “You see so many new faces come up every year, there are guys like Reid Gardiner who are going really far in their career, Erik Gardiner, Maguire, myself, Layne.

“Logan Barlage is coming up, Cael Zimmerman, everybody’s doing great. It’s great to see them flourish.”

Matechuk is the youngest of the three Bantam Bronco commits as he’s preparing for his true rookie 15-year-old season with the Mintos next year. Matechuk was drafted 40th overall in the 2015 WHL Bantam Draft. He scored more than a point-per-game as a defenceman in the Saskatchewan Bantam AA Hockey League last year with 38 points in 31 games and was recently named to the SaskFirst U-16 Top 26 fall roster.

It’s been an eventful offseason so far for Matechuk, who’s excited for his near future in Prince Albert with the Mintos.

“It’s been extraordinary. I love everyone on the ice, the guys are great, the coaches and good,” said Matechuk, who was the Broncos’ captain last season. “I think it’s going to be a fun year here.”

Matechuk is making the jump straight from Bantam AA to the Mintos, while both Poncelet and Blair were on Midget AA Broncos team that won the Centre Four Hockey League championship last season.

Poncelet was the team’s second leading scorer after putting up 36 points in 32 games.

Blair had 22 points in just 12 regular season games to lead the team in points per game (2.3). He also added another 11 in eight playoff games. Although he was able to put up points when he got into action, Blair said he prides himself on playing both ways—a key on fitting in with the Mintos.

“I’m more of an offensive player but I do my job in my defensive zone,” said Blair. “I guess that’s where you make all your money and then you just go from there and do what you can do.”

The Mintos’ fall camp started on Saturday. It will conclude with a 2:30 p.m. final scrimmage on Sunday.

jdandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_dandrea

by Jeff D'Andrea

Mintos continue to be fueled by Humboldt’s bantam program

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