Minot, ND – The Minot Minotauros added 10 new faces to the organization today during the 2023 NAHL Draft. Tauros Head Coach/General Manager Cody Campbell opted to target experience with six of the selections being 2003 birth years and just one year of eligibility. By virtue of their 31-27-2 record last season the Tauros owned the 16th of 32 slots in each round.
In the first round the Tauros selected Neepawa Titans forward Hayden Stocks. The Edmonton, Alberta, native has played junior each of the last two seasons in Canada and has 98 points over that span. Last season for Neepawa he posted 31 goals and 22 assists and will look to build on those numbers heading into his final season of junior.
The Tauros went into the second round with two picks starting the day and used the first of those to select forward Colby Bear. The big forward (6’2” 201 lbs.) played for the Battlefords North Stars in the SJHL for the last two seasons. Over 94 games he posted 22 goals and 37 assists, 40 of those 59 points came last season for the Stars. He then added four goals and three helpers in 13 playoff games. Technically the Tauros selected Peteris Purmalis four picks later in the second round but that selection was immediately traded to the Minnesota Wilderness for a tender for next season. The deal had been agreed to prior to the pick.
With the 16th pick in third round the Tauros looked to Finland and added their first defenseman of the draft in Matias Myllykoski. Myllykoski has played two seasons of junior in Finland for a pair of storied programs first Jokerit and then Kiekko-Espoo. Over 61 games he had 7 goals and 17 assists. Then with the 24th pick in the round the Tauros too Caden Lee, their first pick with more than one season of eligibility remaining. An ’05 birthyear Lee, from Chanhassen H.S. in Minnesota, posted 43 points in 28 games.
Another young player was taken in the fourth round with Jack Gardner being selected from the Pittsburgh Penguins Elite 18u team; the same program that produced current Tauros Adam Mahler and Nick Sewecke. Gardner posted 16 points over 56 games last season his first of u18 play, and ’05 birthyear he has three seasons of eligibility.
Mykhailo Krasnozhon was selected with the 13th pick of the fifth round. The Ukrainian forward has posted big points playing junior in Slovakia, posting 28 points in 44 games during his rookie season and 42 points in 41 games last season. He also represented Ukraine at the IIHF World Juniors where he had an assist in five games.
Tauros All-Access with Hayden Stocks and Colby Bear
The Tauros went young in the sixth round with Jacob Ingstrup, a defenseman born in 2006. Born November 9, 2006 there is a good chance that the Lombard, IL, native will be the youngest player in the league next season. He posted 15 points in 22 games for the Kent School in Connecticut.
In the seventh round the Tauros selected Joel Lehtinen, son of former Dallas Star Jere Lehtinen. Another ’03 birthyear forward the young Lehtinen has played two seasons of junior in Finland for Kiekko-Espoo. Last season he posted 25 points in 31 games.
In the eighth round the Tauros selected forward John Small from the Langley Rivermen of the BCHL. Small has a year of junior under his belt but is an ’04 giving him two seasons of eligibility as a Tauro. Last season for the Rivermen Small posted three goals and five assists over 46 games.
Finally, the Tauros rounded out their draft class with ’03 forward Maksim Lakic from the Rochester Grizzlies of the NA3HL. The Milwaukee native saw two games of NAHL action last season with the Johnstown Tomahawks before joining Rochester. Prior to that Lakic played both in the NAPHL u16 and u18 levels, this season he will look to continue to climb the NAHL “ladder of development.”
With the NAHL Draft now completed the next step for Campbell and the rest of the Tauros staff will be evaluating the group at Main Camp July 5-8. For the first time ever the Minotauros Main Camp will be held in Minot on the Eck Rink where then Campbell and his staff will determine which 30-35 players will come to Minot in late August for training camp. Main Camp will be open to Tauro fans, a schedule will be posted soon. For that and more Tauros news and notes all summer long be sure to follow the Minotauros social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter) and check back here at GoTauros.com.