By: Ken Oda, minotauroshockey.com
Minot, ND – The Minotauros return to the Maysa Arena on a four game winning streak after road sweeps of the Minnesota Magicians and Aberdeen Wings. They will look to continue their dominance of the Aberdeen Wings this season, the Tauros are 6-2-0 against last place Aberdeen and have out-scored them 27-17 on the season.
The teams are fairly even defensively with the Tauros allowing 2.93 goals per game while the Wings allow 2.97; the main difference between the clubs has been on the offensive end where the Tauros score 3.05 goals per game while the Wings score just 2.05.
The Wings leading scorer Tucker DeYoung (10g 16a) has been relatively quiet against the Tauros registering just five assists through the first eight meetings. Carter Roo (5g 16a) has two goals and four assists and Ryan Cook (5g 13a) has two goals and three assists against the Tauros. However each of the Wings top three scorers is a minus player against the Tauros, Roo is -1, DeYoung -5, and Cook -7.
The Tauros offense against Aberdeen has been led by Derek Frentz (11g 14a) and Zack Bross (8g 14a) with eight points each; Frentz has five goals and three assists, while Bross has three goals and five helpers. James LaDouce (6g 17a) has a pair of overtime winners against Aberdeen along with three assists.
In goal recently acquired Tauro Gunner Rivers (12-10-1) stopped 52 of 55 shots in his debut against Aberdeen last weekend in earning NAHL Easton Hockey Central Division First Star of the Week. For Aberdeen UND commit Peter Thome (9-12-7) continues to receive the lion’s share of the work while Gavin Paczosa (4-6-1) backs up. Thome is 1-1-2 against the Tauros while Paczosa is 1-2-0.
This weekend will also be the Tauros inaugural Family Weekend. The players families have all been invited to Minot and there will be several events in the Magic City for the players and their families. The weekend has been made possible by several of the Minotauros sponsors: La Quinta Inn and Suites, Qdoba, Elevation, Delisimo Cafe, Applebees, Planet Pizza, Central Cab, and Too Dark Motorsports.