By Jeff D'Andrea

Mintos’ 1-2 punch knocks out Contacts

Dec 10, 2015 | 8:57 PM

At this point, it should be safe to say the Prince Albert Mintos have the most formidable 1-2 punch in the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League. At the very least, Riley Sawchuk and Erik Gardiner made a convincing case for it in Thursday’s 6-4 win over the Saskatoon Contacts at the Art Hauser Centre.

Sawchuk, a sixth-round draft choice of the Tri-City Americans, had two goals and an assist on Thursday and now leads the SMAAAHL in both goals (20) and points (32). His linemate Gardiner, Regina Pats second-rounder, also had two goals and five points. Gardiner, the Mintos’ captain, sits right behind Sawchuk in the points (31) and leads the league in assists with 24.

If that wasn’t enough, Mintos defenceman Jake Hobson leads the SMAAAHL in scoring among blueliners with nine goals and 26 points. He also found the back of the net in the first period.

When Sawchuk was asked whether or not he thought he could be in the top of the league in scoring heading into the season, he said he thought it was possible and hoped he could be up at the top of the league.

“I wanted to be there so bad so I just worked my hardest,” said Sawchuk, the 16-year-old from Prince Albert, who has four goals in his last four games. “I guess I’m close anyway, so it’s nice.”

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Sawchuk and Gardiner have had different linemates play with them throughout the season. Lately, it’s been mostly 17-year-old rookie Braden Isbister, who’s finishing out his minor hockey career playing for his hometown team. Isbister did not disappoint on the top line on Thursday as he had four assists and forced a turnover that directly lead to Sawchuk’s first goal.

“Gardiner he’s a big playmaker and he’s a smart player and can see the ice well. Izzy, he’s a hard worker down in the corners and I guess myself, I’m alright too,” chuckled Sawchuk. “We just have good chemistry and find the back of the net.”

A little better than Tuesday

After Tuesday’s disappointing 4-1 loss to the Saskatoon Blazers, the Mintos needed a strong effort. They showed, especially in the first period, that they were ready to play according to Mintos assistant coach Todd Becker.

In the first period, the Mintos hit everything in sight and had the Contacts penned in their own zone for long stretches. The Mintos led 2-1 heading into the second despite a 23-7 advantage in shots.

“We’ve been talking about it lots to finish checks,” said Becker. “You’re better off finishing checks, doing it the right way with the body than stick infractions—they’ve been biting us here for the last little while, we’ve been taking too many. But we were pretty good today with the discipline.”

The Mintos held a players’ meeting in between the two games to sort out a few things that hindered the team in their recent skid. They had one win in their previous four games because Thursday’s matchup.

“We had a talk in a team meeting, just with the boys. We were on a slump there for a bit but we worked it out,” said Sawchuk. “We came out there strong with some energy and just got it done.”

After the Mintos made it a 3-1 game early in the second, the Contacts were able to get themselves back in the game with two quick goals to tie the game with 4:35 left in the second period. Erik Gardiner scored his first of the game with 2:32 left in the second to restore the Mintos’ lead.

Contacts forward Cody Illerbrun scored with his second of the game 16:51 left in the third, but Gardiner needed just 23 seconds to make it a 5-4 Mintos lead.

Sawchuk added the insurance marker, going bar-down after receiving a nice cross-crease set up from Gardiner.

Kyle Schneider also found the back of the net for the Mintos.

For the Contacts, Illerbrun finished the game with two goals and an assist. Justin Ball, Quinton Ong also scored for the Contacts. The Mintos were 2-4 on the power play and 3-3 on the penalty kill.

Mintos will face the Yorkton RawTec Maulers on Sunday at the Art Hauser Centre. The Maulers feature Carson Miller, one of the Raiders’ two first round pick of the 2015 WHL Bantam Draft.

panews@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @princealbertnow