By: Ken Oda, minotauroshockey.com
Minot, ND – As the Minotauros seventh season draws near it is time to start meeting the players heading to Minot for training camp. Camp opens September 3rd and the pre-season opens on September 9th against the Bismarck Bobcats at the Maysa Arena. We continue meeting the team with Tauros defenseman Lincoln Erne.
The ’98 birthyear defenseman brings both size and speed which is why the Tauros drafted him in the first round of the 2017 NAHL Draft. Tauros’ Head Coach and General Manager Marty Murray was quick to set a high bar for the incoming rookie, “I think he’ll be a player that follows in the footsteps of a player like Jake Dittel, Jon Lizotte, Casey Johnson, Sam Fuss who came in their rookie season and played a prominent role.”
His Minnesota high school numbers suggest that he will do just that. At Blaine High School Erne posted 67 points from the blue line in 99 career games, adding another seven points in 10 postseason games. He was also the team captain. Erne’s description of his game certainly explains the point production, “I play a physical and gritty game in the D zone focused on making a good first pass. I also like to jump up into the play and create offense. I would say I model my game after a guy like Brent Burns. He’s a big guy who’s tough to play against in the D zone and is always making things happen offensively.”
Assistant General Manager Chris Lonke was the scout who first found Erne for the Tauros saying he first noticed “his size and skating ability in the fall elite league.” Erne posted 11 points in 21 games for Team Northeast in the Fall Elite League. Like Murray, Lonke believes Erne will step right into a big role for the Tauros, “he plays both ends of the rink really well. He’s smart defensively and doesn’t cheat to get his offense. He picks his spots well on the rush and has a strong shot from the offensive blue.”
Erne said he is “excited to get up to Minot and meet all the guys and get going! I can’t wait to play in front of the crowd at Maysa Arena!” He added his goals for the season are lofty yet simple, saying he just wants “to get better everyday and ultimately win a Robertson Cup.”
Come back tomorrow when we will meet Ryan Green. Do not miss your chance to see Erne and all of the Tauros in action for the first time September 9th at 7:35 at the Maysa Arena when the Bismarck Bobcats come to Minot to open the pre-season.