By: Ken Oda, minotauroshockey.com
Onalaska, WI – The Tauros remained one the hottest teams in the NAHL with a 4-0 over the Coulee Region Chill tonight. The Tauros dominated right from the start posting 19 shots in the first period and lead 1-0 after 20 minutes. They did not let up in the second with 22 more shots and three more goals to put the game away. The offensive outburst was more than enough as Ryan Ruck was stellar in net stopping all 30 of the Chill’s shots for his first career NAHL shutout.
Mason Morelli opened the scoring for the Tauros with helpers from Jadin Martin and Paul Sorenson. Morelli then added his seventh of the season on the power play 7:50 into the second again with help from Martin and Steven Sherman. Then Tauro captain Tim Donohue playing just his third game since returning from injury made it 3-0 as Martin collected his third assist on the night. Donohue who scored last Saturday with 2.3 seconds left in the first period against Bismarck; cut it even closer scoring his second of the night at the 19:59 mark of the second.
Donohue’s second goal was the fourth for the Tauros and sent Blake Cates to the bench for the night. Devin Kero came on and stopped 10 shots in the third to keep both Morelli and Donohue from recording the first hat trick in the Minotauros short history. The win did however push the second year franchise over the .500 mark for the first time at 14-13-2.
Three Stars of the Game:
1st Star: Ryan Ruck – 30 saves on 30 shots, win
2nd Star: Mason Morelli – 2 goals +1
3rd Star: Tim Donohue – 2 goals +1
Next Up: The Tauros head to Brookings to take on the Blizzard tomorrow night. A win for the Tauros would move them past Brookings and into a tie with Bismarck for second place in the Central Division.