By: Ken Oda, minotauroshockey.com
Minot, ND – The Minotauros have traded goaltender Jon Flakne to the Odessa Jackalopes in exchange for goaltender Gunner Rivers. Both goaltenders got off to strong starts this season only to see their numbers begin to drop around Thanksgiving. Both perhaps can benefit from a change of scenery.
Flakne is 7-6-2 as a Tauro this season winning four of his first five starts but managing only three wins since then. Rivers similarly got off to a good start in Odessa winning six of his first seven, but has only one win since going 7-8-1 on the season. Rivers should benefit from having a better defense in front of him; the Tauros are 4th in the NAHL in shots allowed per game at 25.79, while Odessa is 16th at 33.23.
Head Coach and G.M. Marty Murray explained the reason for the trade, “we felt having an experienced goaltender is something we needed to address and Rivers has that.” This is Rivers’ fifth season of junior hockey playing four years in the Central Canada Hockey League. Last season Rivers posted a 2.78 GAA and .913 SV% for the Hawkesbury Hawks of the CCHL. Murray continued saying that, “it will be a healthy competition” between Rivers and current Tauros goaltender Lucas Murray.
Rivers is expected to arrive in Minot this week and will be available for the weekend’s games in Aberdeen. The Minotauros return to the Maysa on February 5th and 6th for games against the Aberdeen Wings. Season tickets are now half price for the remaining 12 games and come with a reserved seat for the playoffs, to get yours call the office at (701)852-0101 or click the “Tickets” tab atop this page.