Minot, ND – The Minot Minotauros are proud to announce that Fritz Belisle has been named the eighth Captain in franchise history. Belisle follows Alex Adams (2017/18), Jake Dittel (2016/17), Jared Brandt (2015/16), Jon Lizotte (2014/15), Time Donohue (2012/13, 2013/14), Derek Tylka (2011/12), and Ben Hughes (2011/12). Belisle will have four assistant captains; Connor McGinnis and Andrew Kangas will wear an “A” at home and Keenan Lund and Lincoln Erne will wear an “A” on the road.
Belisle is entering his second and final season as a Tauro. The Red Wing, Minnesota native had nine goals and five assists last season playing a mostly defensive role but already has two goals and three assists this year playing on the Tauros’ top line.
Erne also will see an expanded roll on the ice this season. Constantly on the Tauros’ third pair last season with the departed Sam Fuss Erne will now be counted on to consistently produce as a member of the top four. To this point he has posted two goals and an assist along with a +2 rating in four games at the Showcase.
Kangas is the lone member of the Tauros Captain group to be going into his third season in the NAHL. Two years ago, he posted 14 points for the Minnesota Magicians before posting 15 for the Tauros last season despite being slowed by injuries in the second half. This year, now fully healthy, Kangas had three goals and three assists in four games at the Showcase.
Lund, like Belisle has seen his role go from that of defensive forward to top line player and responded in kind. With three goals and four assists at the Showcase Lund is almost halfway to matching last season’s eight goal 10 assist output just four games into the season.
McGinnis is the lone member of the Tauros’ leadership group already committed to an NCAA Division I program in Air Force. Like Belisle, Erne, and Lund, McGinnis is in his second year with the team. McGinnis had two goals and nine assists last season and already has two helpers this year.
The new Captain Belisle said “it’s an honor to wear the “C” for this team but any one of these guys could be wearing it we have a good group of leaders here.” Tauros Head Coach and General Manager Marty Murray agree, “all the guys are deserving, we felt it was important to include all of them in our leadership group. They’re all veteran players who were part of the ride last season. They’re all going to have big roles on the ice, we don’t want them to change who they are just play their games and the leadership will come naturally.”
The Tauros still have three more road games prior to the home opener October 6th against Bismarck. This weekend the Tauros are in Brookings to take on the Blizzard.