Tauros Name Captains

Oct 14, 2014

By: Ken Oda, minotauroshockey.com

Minot, ND – The Minot Minotauros have named Jon Lizotte the fourth captain in the history of the franchise, Johnny Walker and James Mathias will be assistants.  Lizotte gets the “C” from Tim Donohue who wore it for the last two seasons, Ben Hughes followed by Derek Tylka were the Captains in the Tauros inaugural season.  Tauros head coach Marty Murray explained the selections, “since the beginning of training camp all three young men have been great on and off of the ice.  Their leadership qualities are evident and we expect them to continue to lead by example on and off the ice.”

Lizotte, a defenseman, is in his second season as a Tauro after leading Grand Fork Red River to the 2013 North Dakota High School Championship and being named North Dakota’s Mr. Hockey.  In 67 games with the Tauros Lizotte has 10 goals and 21 assists.  Lizotte was named to the Central Divison Top Prospect team last season and had an assist as was +4 in the two game tournament. 

Walker, a Phoenix, AZ, native is also in his second season with the Minotauros.  Last season Walker missed significant time with an injury but still posted two goals in limited time as a defenseman.  This season the Minotauros moved him to forward and he has six goals and two assists in seven games.

Mathias joined the Tauros in late September after being acquired via trade from the Wenatchee Wild.  This is his third season in the NAHL, having played for the Fresno Monsters two seasons ago and Wenatchee last season and the start of this year.  While in Fresno Mathias played with former Tauro Tyler Shipstad, who also wore an “A” for the Tauros.  He has four goals and an assist in five games since the trade brought him to Minot.