Draft Preview

Jun 2, 2013

By: Ken Oda, minotauroshockey.com

Minot, ND – Tuesday afternoon the NAHL will hold it’s annual rookie draft. The Minotauros will not pick in the first round having traded that pick to Springfield before last season for goaltender Tyler Parks.  Parks, lead the Tauros into the post-season for the first time and along the way became the program’s first NCAA Division I commit.  Despite not having a pick in the first round the Tauros will have ten picks in rounds two through six. 

Based on the standings from last season the Tauros hold the 9th pick in each round except obviously in the first round.  In the second round the Tauros hold four picks total picks, followed by three in the third round and one each in rounds four through six (for a full break down see below).  Teams are allotted 30 draft picks minus any protected veterans and tendered players.

After a good season with a young team and a strong tender class the Tauros are in a good position going into the draft.  Coach Marty Murray may choose to select several young prospects or deal some picks to acquire proven NAHL talent.

Despite the young roster the Tauros had last season there are more spots open than one would expect just by looking at players’ birth years.  Besides losing Parks (St. Lawrence (NCAA DI), Matt Audette (U. Wisconsin Superior NCAA DIII), and Paul Sorenson, who all age out; the Tauros lose David Dalbec (U. Wisconsin Superior NCAA DIII), Steven Sherman (St. Olaf NCAA DIII), and Zach Holstrom (Arizona St. ACHA DI) who chose to leave early. 

Fans and players can follow the live draft one of three ways: