John MacNeil
Daily Herald
From newcomers to veterans, multiple names jump off the page as the Prince Albert Mintos gather for their fall camp this weekend at the Art Hauser Centre.
Chris Bourdon, the team’s new general manager, said about half of the signed 19 players are returnees from last year’s edition of the Mintos.
Among the fresh faces are Western Hockey League draft choices Caleb Philp and Lachlan Vandall from the Saskatchewan U15 AA champion Prince Albert Pirates. Both are forwards — Shellbrook’s Philp is a Swift Current Broncos’ prospect and Prince Albert’s Vandall is property of the Prince George Cougars.
“We’re very happy with them,” Bourdon said. “They’re going to be Mintos for hopefully a few years, and we can develop them and move them on to the next level. At the end of the day, that’s what this business is all about — making sure we can progress these kids on to the next level.”
Their former U15 AA coach, Tyson Dallman, is the Mintos’ new head coach.
Also helping the rookies make that adaptation to U18 AAA hockey are multiple incumbents from last year’s Mintos.
“Max Cooper is going to form a big part of our offence,” Bourdon said. “Linden Abercrombie is going to be really depended on. Xander Pritchard on the front end, as well.
“On the back end, we’ve got guys like Noah Gibson and Cooper Zawatsky who are going to play big roles. Staiden Paranteau, this is his third year playing with the Mintos, so he’ll form part of the leadership group.
“Then, we have a returning goalie — Cohen Kuntz from Humboldt — who had the chance to AP with the club last year. He was a late cut from the Saskatoon Blazers last season, and he was able to come and play a few games with the Mintos.”
It’s anticipated that Kuntz will share the Prince Albert net with William Shaw, a young goaltender from Saskatoon.
It’s already safe to say that Shaw is an athletic goalie.
“William was a draft pick of the (SJHL’s) Flin Flon Bombers this past spring,” Bourdon said. “And (in baseball), he just finished competing in the Western 18U AA championship in Fort McMurray (Alta.) last weekend. Not just a good hockey player, but he’s a good ball player, as well.”
For most of the signed Mintos, more pre-season excitement is soon to come as they head to junior A and major junior training camps within the next two weeks.
“Almost every single one of our players is going to be going to a junior camp somewhere in the province or somewhere across Western Canada,” Bourdon said.
“If one of those players ends up staying with their junior club, we’ll deal with that then, and we may pick up someone later on in the fall. But we’ll cross that road when we get there.”
A couple of local Mintos won’t be around town for all of this weekend.
“We’re going to be missing Jacob Schmidt,” Bourdon reported. “He’s a draft pick of the (WHL’s) Vancouver Giants. Their camp is starting Monday, so his family is driving out there early, so he won’t be able to participate in (Mintos’) camp this weekend.
“And, also, Lachlan Vandall. His family is going to (make the trip to) Prince George, so he won’t be here all weekend. He’ll just be here for the early part of our camp.”
Vandall was the captain of last year’s champion Pirates.
Prince Albert Mintos training camp schedule
Saturday:
• 9 a.m. – Team Gold vs Team White
• 10:45 a.m. – Team Black vs Team Green
• 2 p.m. – Team Black vs Team Gold
• 3:45 p.m. – Team White vs Team Green
Sunday:
• 9 a.m. – Team Black vs Team White
• Noon – Team Gold vs Team Green
