Minot, ND – Ahead of Wednesday’s 2022 NAHL Entry Draft 28 Tastes and Taps brings you Tauros Draft Coverage! We will take a look at where the Tauros current roster stands as well as the picks the Tauros have (as of now) in Wednesday’s draft.
With several veterans set to return and a strong tender class the Tauros enter the 2022 draft with just six selections to round out their protected list for the summer. The Tauros five selections is arguably the fewest draft picks the Tauros will have ever had. It ties the 2021 NAHL Draft and is one more than the team had in the 2020 NAHL, however each of those summers saw the NAHL hold an early three round supplementary draft prior to the Entry Draft so the Tauros had nine and eight picks respectively those summers.
This year, for the first time in franchise history, the Tauros have two first round picks. They will come back to back at ninth and tenth overall. Then the Tauros pick 60th overall in the third round. The Tauros do not have a fourth round pick so they will round out their draft class in the fifth and sixth rounds.
As for the Tauros already on the roster the Tauros have 17 forwards, 12 defensemen, and two goaltenders. Six of the current Tauros are already NCAA DI committed players.
Forwards
Up front the Tauros lost five of their top six forwards from last season but do return seven forwards from last year’s team. As for returning Tauros Colby Joseph lead last year’s club with 23 goals and finished third overall on the team with 35 points. David Nesburg and Trevor Stachowiak both played large roles last season and finished tied for eighth overall on the team with 28 points apiece. Joe Westlund, Nate Mann, and Braden Panzer round out the returning forwards who posted double digit points last season. Minot native Owen Hanson returns as well looking to build off of his rookie campaign which saw him dress in 44 games. Of course, the biggest veteran presence for next year arrives via post-season trade, Hunter Longhi led the Minnesota Magicians last season with 26 goals and 36 assists for 62 points in 59 games.
Aside from the returning players the Tauros have nine forwards tendered for next season Hayden DeMars headlines the class as he joined the Tauros for the stretch run last season. Adam Johnson also saw some time with the Tauros skating in five games in December and January before finishing the year with the NA3HL’s Rochester Grizzlies who won the Silver Cup. John Emmons (Miami University), Nick Sewecke, Chase LaPinta (Arizona State), Carter Olson, and Max Martin all tendered early in the process during the season. Jack O’Hanisain, the younger brother of Tauros defenseman Nick O’Hanisain signed late in the season as did Justin Dauphinais (UMass-Lowell).
Also lurking on the outside of the picture is Braydon Beahm (Clarkson) who was selected 30th overall in the 2022 USHL Draft by the Omaha Lancers.
Defensemen
On the back end with Cole Mickel traded for Longhi, the Tauros have four veterans returning; Ben Johnson, Nick O’Hanisain, Graham Skinner, and Colby Woogk. Sam Saccone had another year of eligibility as well but instead has committed to NCAA DIII Skidmore for the fall. Johnson led the returning group with five goals and 11 assists for 16 points. Joseph Blackley (Yale), Carter Bradley, Adam Mahler, Trent Sambrook (Mercyhurst), and Weston Knox (Air Force Academy) are all tendered.
Goaltending
The Tauros lose both Zach Sandy and Lassi Lehti as they both head off to NCAA DI programs in the fall. The Tauros tendered a pair of goaltenders to try to fill what has historically been the Tauros strongest position. For now the goaltending pictures come down to Carl Lido who is from Sweden and Lawton Zacher, who played at Nichols Prep with Blackley.
Follow the Draft
Thanks to 28 Tastes and Taps there will be morning to night coverage of the 2022 NAHL Entry Draft on the Tauros socials. The NAHL will be hosting a live show throughout the draft on HockeyTV. Then after the 2022 NAHL Entry Draft there will be a new episode of Tauros All Access live on Facebook at 7:30. Ken Oda and Peter Theodos will welcome Head Coach/G.M. Cody Campbell and at least one of the Tauros draft picks.