By: Ken Oda, minotauroshockey.com
Minot, ND – The Minot Minotauros Captain Jared Brandt has committed to play his college hockey for NCAA DI Miami University. Brandt will head to Oxford, OH, to start his college career next fall.
Brandt is in his third season with the Minotauros and has posted a goal and 10 assists. For his career with the Minotauros Brandt has four goals and 26 assists in 118 games since 2013. Brandt’s 91 shots on goal this year rank 10th among defensemen in the NAHL. Brandt’s 118 games played as a Tauro are tied with Matt Audette for the third most in franchise history. If Brandt plays at least 23 of the Tauros remaining 32 games he will pass Tim Donohue for second all time.
Tauros Head Coach Marty Murray praised Brandt’s work ethic “A great story he came in from the NAPHL, battled his way through and his consistency got him to this point.” Murray continued “last season he developed into a top defenseman in our league, and he proved it at the Showcase where he stood out.”
Brandt said he chose Miami because, “they are one of the premier programs in college hockey and they are close to home.” Brandt credited “the [Minotauros] coaching staff with helping him achieve his goal. He also wanted to thank his billet family, teammates, and of course his family.” Brandt will be reunited with former Minotauro Scott Dornbrock who is currently a sophomore at Miami University. The duo were teammates in Minot during Brandt’s rookie year and Brandt said “I called him yesterday, it will be good to play with him again and go in knowing someone already.”
Brandt becomes the 14 Minotauro to commit to playing NCAA DI hockey; he is the second this season after Johnny Walker committed to Arizona State in October.