By: Ken Oda, minotauroshockey.com
Minot, ND – The Minot Minotauros are proud to announce that Head Coach and General Manager Marty Murray has been named the Central Division General Manager of the Year and defenseman James LaDouce was named Central Division Defenseman of the Year as well as a member of the All-Central Division Team.
LaDouce posted 10 goals, 25 assists, and a +13 rating in his first season with the Minotauros. His 35 points on the season are the most by a Tauros defenseman in a single season topping Jon Lizotte’s 34 points in the 2014-15 campaign. Murray praised LaDouce saying “James was a very solid contributor in all aspects this past season. He came in from the USHL and had a great attitude right from day 1. We put James in a role that perhaps he hadn't seen before, and he ran with it. It was enjoyable to see him thrive in all areas and become to top end defenseman in not only our division, but the entire league.” LaDouce’s strong play earned him an NCAA DI commitment to the University of Alaska-Fairbanks.
For Murray this is the second season in a row in which he has been honored, last season he was the Central Division Coach of the Year. Over his four full seasons behind the bench Murray has guided the Tauros to a 122-99-19 record for a .548 point percentage. Brad Porter who speaks for the Minotauros ownership group believed the honor was well deserved; “the continued success of the Minotauros organization is testimony of the great work Marty and his group do day in and day out to develop and ensure that all our players have the best experience and opportunities possible. He instills the hockey culture with a sense of respectability that every program needs to have and he is truly deserving of this recognition.”
The NAHL will be announcing the League-Wide awards tomorrow afternoon. Stay tuned to minotauroshockey.com for Tauros news throughout the off-season.