Mintos forward Austin McLean scored three of the 20 goals the Mintos scored in two games against the Argos at the Art Hauser Centre. Jeff D'Andrea/paNOW Staff

By Jeff D'Andrea

Mintos Hockey

Mintos pile on the goals in a comfortable sweep over the Argos

Dec 8, 2019 | 5:30 PM

The Prince Albert Mintos could not stop scoring.

They outscored the Notre Dame Argos 20-0 in a pair of wins this weekend at the Art Hauser Centre. The Mintos won 12-0 on Saturday and followed it up with an 8-0 victory on Sunday.

“I think in this weekend, we had some good opportunity to work on our offensive zone play, which is a thing we’ve been focusing on here through this last stretch,” Mintos head coach Danton Danielson said. “Our learning process up until the last couple weeks, we maybe hadn’t been focusing so much on the offensive zone part of it, trying to get some other things nailed down. So it was good to play in the offensive zone a little bit and develop some chemistry and some creativity on offence. That’s probably the biggest win here this weekend.”

There was a lot of stat-padding throughout the weekend, especially from newcomer Kody Willick.

Willick scored seven points on the weekend, including a two-goal, four-point night on Saturday and added another three assists on Sunday.

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Willick was added to the Mintos on Dec. 3, after the team learned that forward Gabe Klassen would be staying with the WHL’s Portland Winterhawks for the remainder of the season. Willick scored 13 goals and 28 points in 18 games in Midget AA with the Saskatoon Sabrecats before his call up to the Mintos.

“I think he’s been great. I think he’s added an element that maybe we’ve been missing a little bit which is more of a hard-nosed, straight-lined work ethic kind of play,” Danielson said. “He spends a lot of time around the other team’s net, which is something we all find a way to do a little more of. So with all those elements and the hockey sense he brings to the table, I think he’s going to add a lot in all aspects of the game.”

Mintos forward Ashton Ferster returned this weekend from a wrist injury. Saturday night’s game was the first game Ferster played since Oct. 27.

Ferster, the Medicine Hat Tigers prospect, scored two goals and an assist on Sunday. He now has four goals and nine points in 12 games played thus far this season.

Josh Peppler also had a two-goal, three-point night on Sunday. Austin McLean scored a pair. Tre Fouquette had a goal and an assist.

On Saturday, Dawson Springer had a hat trick, five-point night. Dallyn Peekeekoot and Willick both had two goals and two assists. Chase Pauls had a goal and four assists. Ty Bahm had a goal and three assists. Chase Friedt-Mohr scored a pair. Austin McLean had a goal and a helper.

Although the Mintos were able to pile on the offence, they were without three big players on Sunday. Forward Chase Bertholet (ribs), forward Cooper Chisholm (ankle) and defenceman Zane Florence (illness) all missed Sunday’s game after getting into the lineup on Saturday. Danielson said all those injuries are considered “short-term” and could be resolved in a few days. The one the Mintos will have to wait a little longer on is forward Dawson Brace, who’s been nursing a shoulder injury for the last month.

The Mintos are on the road on Tuesday to play the Battlefords Stars. They’ll return home this weekend for a two-game set against the Yorkton Maulers, playing at 1:30 p.m. on both Saturday at Sunday.

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Jeff.dandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW