For the first time since 2006, the Prince Albert Mintos have been defeated in a playoff series. The Mintos’ two-year reign as national Midget champions came to an end of Saturday night in Wilcox, SK when they lost 6-2 to the Notre Dame Hounds, dropping their Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League quarterfinal series in three games.

The Mintos, who won TELUS Cups in Charlottetown, PEI in 2006 and Red Deer, AB in 2007, faced elimination in their opening round series with the Regina Pat Canadians, losing the first two games of a best-of-five series. After clawing back to win that series, including an overtime win in Game 3 and a one-goal nail-biter in Game 5, the Mintos could not duplicate the feat against the top-ranked Hounds.

GIANTS UPSET

Another of the teams that competed for the 2007 TELUS Cup saw their season come to an end on the weekend as well.

The Vancouver North West Giants, who dominated the B.C. Major Midget League to the tune of a 36-2-2 record and zero losses in 20 games on home ice, were upset by the Cariboo Cougars, who finished 32 points behind the Giants in the regular season.

The Cougars handed the Giants their first home loss of the season with a 4-2 victory on Friday night in Burnaby, and wrapped up the upset with a 6-4 win on Saturday.

Cariboo will face the Okanagan Rockets, who upset the second-ranked Greater Vancouver Canadians, in the B.C. Major Midget League final this weekend, with the winner facing the AMHL champion for a spot in the 2008 TELUS Cup.