Minot, ND – The Minotauros increased their lead on the Central Division to three points with a big home win over the Bismarck Bobcats on Monday night. Prior to the game the Tauros celebrated the American Military as part of their Salute to Service game including a ceremonial puck drop between the Tauros Keenan Lund and Bismarck’s Mitchell Walinski both of whom are committed to the United States Air Force Academy. The pucks were dropped by Medal of Honor recipient Clint Romesha and Colonel Sloan Hollis, the 5th Bomb Wing Vice Commander. After the puck drop, another Air Force commit, the Tauros Connor McGinnis presented both men with their own Minotauros military themed jersey matching those worn by the Minotauros this week.
Once the action started it did not take long for Wilmer Skoog to open the scoring. Just 1:03 into the game Skoog scored with help from Lincoln Erne and Brennan Couet giving the Tauros a 1-0 lead on the first shot of the game. Kyle Oleksiuk doubled the lead in the middle portion of the period off of a nice feed from Justin Kelley. Daniel Chladek got the Bobcats on the board late in the period when a rebound went off of his skate into the net behind reigning NAHL Central Star of the Week Nick Grabko.
In the second Kelley score a goal of his own sending a shot off the crossbar an in to extend the Tauros’ lead to 3-1. But the Bobcats answered back again when Will Fisher took advantage of a turnover and flipped a puck on net that Grabko deflected but still could not stop from going in. With less than a minute remaining in the middle period Andrew Kangas redirected a Couet shot from the point past Bismarck goaltender John Roberts to give the Tauros a 4-2 lead.
Chladek added his second of the game just 2:36 into the third giving the Bobcats hope but the Tauros would outshoot them 16 to four in the final 20 minutes to ice away the victory.
Next up for the Tauros is a weekend set against the Brookings Blizzard at the Maysa Arena. The Tauros have outscored the Blizzard 25-4 through four meetings thus far this season, all in Brookings. After Saturday night’s game the Tauros will be auctioning the military themed jerseys that they are wearing this week with portions of the proceeds going to various military charities. Tickets for both games are available here or through the “Tickets” tab atop this page.