Prince Albert Mintos 2005/2006 & 2006/2007 – Team

Developmental hockey in Prince Albert has featured the Mintos of the Saskatchewan Midget AAA League as the top minor hockey-associated team. In the mid-2000’s, the Mintos reach a new level of excellence, winning back to back national Telus Cup Championships in 2005-06 and 2006-07, the first time in the 29-year history this had happened. The Mintos would finish 2nd in the SMAAHL during the regular season in 2005-06 with a 31-9-1 record. They then won the league playoffs, including sweeping regular season champion Saskatoon Blazers 3 games to 0 in the final to advance to the Western Regionals in Tisdale. The Mintos then went undefeated at Regionals, including a 5-2 win over the Winnipeg Thrashers in the final to qualify for the 2006 Telus Cup National Midget Championships in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. At the 2006 Telus Cup, the Mintos breezed through the round robin with a 5-0 record. In the semis they rolled over Chateaguay, Quebec 8-0 to advance to the final against the Calgary Buffaloes. Captain Ron Meyers scored in the third overtime period to give the Mintos a 5-4 victory over the Buffaloes, whose roster included Jordan Eberle. Prince Albert Minor Hockey product Matthew Robertson, who won the league scoring title that year, was named the top forward at the Telus Cup after scoring 12 goals, to break a record previously held by Sidney Crosby. With four players returning (Tommy Brown, Curtis Kulchar, Jadon Potter and Owen Roschuk), the 2006-07 Mintos had a new look on the ice. But off the ice lead by President Zenon Markowsky, Manager Mike Mazurek, Coach Tim Leonard, Assistant Coaches Maurice Lemire and Wally Lynds, Trainer Quentin Halcro, Equipment Manager Dan (Cobra) Taylor and Executive member Rick Willie, the expectation remained high. And the team delivered. The Mintos cruised through the SMAAAHL regular season with a record of 35-7-1-1 to win the title. The playoffs saw the Mintos defeat the Notre Dame Hounds in the final to advance to the Western Regionals in Brandon, Manitoba. Once again the Mintos went through the Regionals unscathed, including a 4-3 win over the Brandon Wheat Kings in the final to advance to their second straight Telus Cup, this time in Red Deer, Alberta. Minto Magic at the Telus Cup continued as they would run their winning streak to 14 games in 2007, sweeping the round robin, defeating St-Francois Blizzard of Quebec 4-2 in the Semi Final, then defeated the host Red Deer Optimist Rebels 3-2 in double overtime in the final. Ryan Fox scored the OT winner for the Mintos to stun the home crowd, who saw Prince Albert end a 29 game home-ice winning streak in the round robin of the tournament. Tyler Fiddler was awarded the top forward, Lewis Laczko the top defenceman and Carson Chubak the top goalie at the Telus Cup. Inducted in the Team Category in the Prince Albert Sports Hall of Fame, please welcome both the 2005/06 and the 2006/07 Prince Albert Mintos.