Mintos forward Gage Helm looks to take a step forward after being the team's rookie of the year last season. (Jeff D'Andrea/paNOW Staff)

By Jeff D'Andrea

Mintos prepare for season, even without any idea when it will start

Aug 16, 2020 | 12:13 PM

Like every other team in the Saskatchewan Male Under-18 AAA Hockey League, the Prince Albert Mintos find themselves in an unusual situation.

As they took to the ice on Saturday at the Art Hauser Centre to start their two-day fall camp, the Mintos are preparing for a season while having no idea when it will actually start.

“It’s been pretty weird,” Mintos head coach Danton Danielson said.

Back on Wednesday, the Saskatchewan Hockey Association said in a statement they have not received a start date yet from the Saskatchewan Health Authority or the provincial government due to concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic. But they did layout plans for teams looking to put together their squads and being able to practice and hold camps.

The Mintos have been following guidelines. Danielson said one of the biggest challenges has been avoiding activities that could form big crowds like tours of the rink and dressing rooms with families or holding team meetings.

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That could prove to be difficult during the season as well, as Danielson will have to come up with ways on how to teach his team new plays and strategies without gathering them all together.

“We don’t know whether we can have big meetings and things like that. We might have to be creative in how we teach and how we learn this year,” Danielson said.

But regardless of the whole weirdness of the situation, and the lack of a concrete start date to the season, the Mintos are pushing on. Earlier in the offseason, the Mintos were able to fill almost their entire roster with commitments for next season.

Only one forward spot and one defenceman spot remain to be filled, and this weekend’s camp will go a long way to sort that out. Danielson also added a number of bantam-aged players were invited to introduce them to the program, and allow the Mintos to look into the crystal ball to help make roster decisions in the future.

Out of the young group this year that could be counted on offensively is Prince Albert’s Tanner Howe. Howe led the Prince Albert Pirates in scoring with 38 goals and 75 points in 31 games. He was also drafted by the Regina Pats, 73^rd overall in the fourth round, as well as second overall in the SJHL Bantam Draft by the Weyburn Red Wings.

“We’re incredibly excited for Tanner,” Danieslon said. “We think he’s got sky’s-the-limit potential for him.”

Danielson is most impressed with Howe’s hockey IQ and his decision making, as well as his quick release and skill with the puck.

The Mintos also were able to get other big bantam scorers like Trae Johnson (36 goals, 67 points for Martensville Marauders and second round pick of the Brandon Wheat Kings) Zach Bansley (39 goals, 86 points for North East Wolfpack).

The Mintos will be returning four players from last year’s team, with Raider prospects Tre Fouquette and Dallyn Peekeekoot, Mintos’ rookie of the year winner Gage Helm, and Kody Willick — who joined the Mintos partway through last season.

Danielson is excited to see how the returnees come in and respond to having bigger roles. That’s especially true for Peekeekoot, who was slowed down last year to a collarbone injury before the year even started. Now that it’s behind him, Danielson is hoping to get a full, healthy season from the big power forward from Ahtahkakoop.

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Jeff.dandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW