Blades forward Fraser Minten continues to live out wildest dreams

Every child dreams about what they want to be when they grow up.

Some want to be a doctor or an astronaut or maybe even a professional athlete.

For those who dream of sports, a few milestone markers include playing beyond school, getting drafted, making a pro debut and representing their country on an international stage.

For Blades forward Fraser Minten, all of those milestones have been hit in the past 12 months.

Over the past year, Minten has played in the Memorial Cup, was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs, made his NHL debut, represented Canada at the World Juniors, and now has the chance to potentially play in his second Memorial Cup, this time with the Blades.

Minten said if you were to tell him this would be his future when he was 12 years old, he probably wouldn’t have believed you.

“He’d be really, really excited, really proud,” said Minten. “It would’ve been something that at that point in my life I wouldn’t even dream up or think of as a possibility.”

While the result wasn’t what anyone on Team Canada wanted at the World Juniors, Minten said putting on that red Canadian jersey was still a dream come true for him.

“It was a really cool and unique experience. It was a goal of mine,” said Minten. “It’s a lot of pride putting on that jersey.”

Not only did Minten pull on a Team Canada jersey, but he was also named the captain of Team Canada, making him the second Blades player to serve in the role. The first was Kirby Dach in 2021.

Minten’s NHL teammate John Tavares made the announcement, and Minten said that was one of the coolest things ever.

“He’s an unbelievable player and hard to miss on the highlights when I was a kid,” said Minten. “It’s special to get to hear it from him.”

Minten now joins a very prestigious list of captains for Team Canada, with his name appearing alongside the likes of Eric Lindros, Theoren Fleury and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.

Minten’s parents made the trip to Gothenburg, Sweden to watch their son play in the World Juniors.

“The team is able to cover the hotel and the tickets,” said Minten. “It’s kind of like a nice paid vacation for them, and it’s cool to be able to have them get those experiences overseas watching you play the game you love.”

But as the Maple Leafs prospect returns to the Bridge City for the Blades’ playoff push, the pressure of continuing to perform at a high level follows him.

Minten said he doesn’t view the pressure as a bad thing.

“Some say pressure, but to me it’s a privilege and an opportunity,” said Minten. “Two years ago if you would’ve told me this is the situation I would’ve been in, I would’ve taken that in a second.”

Minten is still quite new to Saskatoon and the community, he said he talked with Moose Jaw Warriors forward Brayden Yager and other former teammates about Saskatoon and what he can expect.

“I heard lots of good things. Everybody’s obviously proud that comes from here,” said Minten. “(They) say everybody is super nice people, it’s really cold, and that hockey is the main event.”

The Blades head out on a four-game road trip that begins in Red Deer on Wednesday.