Prince Albert Mintos forward and Raiders prospect Connor Howe had the game-winner during Thursday's 5-4 over Battlefords. (Logan Lehmann/paNOW Staff)

By Logan Lehmann

AAA Hockey

Howe’s last minute goal lifts Mintos over Battlefords; Northern Bears to face Saskatoon Thursday

Jan 16, 2025 | 11:10 AM

Kanyan Unger had a pair of goals, Josh Henry made 31 saves, and Connor Howe played hero during the Prince Albert Mintos narrow 5-4 win over the Battlefords Stars on Wednesday night at the Art Hauser Centre.

The win is the second in a row for P.A. who won their last contest on the road, downing the Saskatoon Contacts 4-3 in a shootout on Sunday.

After Battlefords took a 1-0 lead after the opening frame, Unger got the Mintos on the board early in the second where he followed up with another marker later to put P.A. in front 2-1 with 8:25 to play. Stars’ forward Kobi Weber tied it back up a short time later before Kelan Simmonds took back the lead for the Mintos before the end of the period.

Now 3-2 at the start of the third, it didn’t take long for the Stars to answer as Kash Alger-East potted his second of the night just 15 seconds into the final frame. Battlefords then regained the lead at the midway mark of the period courtesy of Easton Kozak’s fifth marker of the season.

Down one with less than three minutes to play, the Mintos kept on the gas which resulted in William Chabot finding the back of the net, setting up an exciting finish. With 57 ticks to go, Carter Bergen connected with Howe who scored his team-leading 16th of the campaign and the game-winner, as the Mintos prevailed 5-4.

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Bergen also had two other assists on the night for three total, while Chabot, Liam Myhre, Jordon Abrametz, and Staiden Parenteau each had one. As mentioned, Henry made 31 stops for the win to help P.A. improve to 17-12-2 (W-L-OTL) on the year.

The Mintos are now looking to Saturday when they aim to make it three wins in a row against the Notre Dame Hounds in Wilcox. Puck drop is set for 6:30 p.m.

Elsewhere, the Mann-Northway Northern Bears are hitting the road on Thursday to face the Saskatoon Stars in their first meeting since Oct. 24 when the Bears defeated the Stars 5-3, also in Saskatoon.

The Bears were in action this past weekend in Wilcox facing Notre Dame in a pair of contests where they came away with a split. Entering Thursday, P.A. sits fifth in the Sask. Female U18 AAA Hockey League (SFU18AAAHL) standings with a 5-9-1-2 (W-L-OTL-SOL).

Puck drop between the Bears and Stars is set for 7 p.m. at Merlis Belsher Place.

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loganc.lehmann@pattisonmedia.com