By: Ken Oda, minotauroshockey.com
Minot, ND – The Minotauros head into the weekend five points behind the Aberdeen Wings thanks to a six game winning streak that started on November 16th. A win tonight in Minot would give the Tauros a franchise best seven game win streak, and a repeat of last weekend’s two game sweep of the Wings would pull the Tauros within one point of third place in the Central Division.
The Tauros have gone 9-2-0 since the start of November, and it is no secret what has turned the team around. The November 1st game against Brookings was the first game as Tauros for a quartet of new players; Troy Degler, Jake Howie, Colton Kramer, and Kyle Kruegnegel. Alexander Kasitsyn and Tanner Holmquist also joined the Tauros in November and have helped turn around what had been a struggling offense. The six players have combined for 16 goals and 22 assists since joining the club. The added offense has seen the team go from scoring 1.57 goals per game in September and October to 3.36 goals per game since.
For the Wings they will certainly be looking for more offense against the Tauros than last weekend, in which they were held to 17 shots on Friday and were shut out on Satuday by Brandon Wildung who made 18 saves on Saturday. The offense the Wings did generate came mostly from Jonathan Grobosky who had two of Aberdeen’s three goals on Friday and has six points against the Tauros on the season.
Friday’s game at the Maysa is the last of the KHRT/Market Place Foods food drive. Fans who bring a non-perishable food item to donate will receive $2.00 off of admission to the game. Saturday’s game in Aberdeen will be the December Buffalo Wings and Rings Road Watch Party. Tickets (buy now) for the Road Watch Party start at $15 and include all you can eat wings and all you can drink soda or beer.