Matechuk honoured by Mintos, Ozar scores hat trick

By Jeff D’Andrea

Prince Albert Mintos captain Alex Ozar may have scored a hat trick in the Mintos’ 5-2 victory over the Notre Dame Hounds, but he still wasn’t the happiest person in the Art Hauser Centre on Sunday afternoon.

That distinction undoubtedly belonged to Mintos alumnus Layne Matechuk.

Matechuk didn’t stop smiling during the Mintos’ pre-game ceremony in his honour. He played for the Mintos for two full seasons from 2015-17.

After being one of the survivors of the Humboldt Broncos bus crash on April 6, Matechuk was in hospital for six months following the accident, including spending a month in a coma.

But when the Mintos laid out the green carpet for Matechuk and his family, his wide and bright smile didn’t leave his face for the entire ceremony, or the interviews afterwards.

“I am super happy,” said Matechuk during a media scrum in the Johnny Bower Lobby. “It feels really good… I miss being a Minto.”

Matechuk, along with his parents Shelley and Kevin, were on-hand at centre ice for a special pregame ceremony. Matechuk was presented with a bronze stick from Nipawin firefighter Thomas Schultz. Schultz also sculpted a similar to the one the Leicht family received earlier in the season.

“It feels great to come back. We had a lot of great memories here in this building,” Kevin said. “It’s just heartwarming to come back. For them to do this for us, we’re touched. We’re really touched.

“We’re really happy to be here, as you can see by the smile on Layne’s face.”

At centre ice during the pregame ceremony, Matechuk was joined by his parents as well as three former Minto teammates in Braden Schneider, Alex Moar and Kyrell Sopotyk.

Matechuk himself also dropped the ceremonial puck.

Here's Layne Matechuk dropping the ceremonial faceoff, along with Hounds' Drew Englot and Mintos captain Alex Ozar. pic.twitter.com/ay45AGy3aR

— Jeff D'Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) December 16, 2018

The Mintos played with their green jerseys, with “Matechuk” nameplates for each player.

All of the @PA_Mintos are wearing special 'Matechuk' name plates to honour Layne Matechuk, who will be in attendance as a special guest. Picture here are Mintos Logan Cox (left) and Gabe Klassen wearing the jersey during warm-ups. pic.twitter.com/KYMe0M3RIK

— Jeff D'Andrea (@Jeff_paNOW) December 16, 2018

Ozar presented a flower arrangement to Shelley before the game started, then scored a hat trick in the game itself on the Mintos’ way to a 5-2 win.

Chase Bertholet and Logan Cox both tipped in goals in the first period for the Mintos. Ozar scored a pair of goals in the second period, one on the power play, to make it a 4-0 Mintos’ lead after 40 minutes.

The Hounds started the third period strong, getting goals from Coalson Wolford got the Hounds on the board 47 seconds into the frame, and Jayce Nikbahkt followed that up at the halfway point of the period.

But Ozar finished off his hat trick and restored the Mintos’ three goal lead with a hard snap shot from the top of the circle with six minutes left in the contest.

The Mintos play one more game before the holidays, Dec. 20 at the Hauser Centre against the Beardy’s Blackhawks.