Minot, ND – The Minotauros will be sending five players to the represent the NAHL Central Division at the league’s all-star event the Top Prospects Tournament. Forwards Derek Frentz and Reid Stefanson, defensemen Jake Dittel and Nolan Sawchuck, and goaltender Lucas Murray will represent the Tauros.
Derek Frentz is in his second season with the Tauros and third in the NAHL. This will be his second consecutive trip to Prospects, last year he posted a goal and an assist to go with a +1 rating. Frentz has 39 points on 12 goals and 27 assists on the season for the Tauros giving him an even 100 career NAHL points.
Reid Stefanson is in his rookies season in the NAHL and has posted 34 points (15g 19a) through 38 games before an injury forced him out of the lineup the last two weekends. This will be Stefanson’s first trip to Prospects. Stefanson is 12th overall among NAHL rookies in scoring.
Jake Dittel is in his third season with the Tauros and is serving as the team’s captain this year. He has posted 5 goals and 18 assists for 23 points on the year to go with a +19 rating. For his career Dittel has 60 points which is the most ever by a Minotauros defenseman passing Jon Lizotte who had 59 points before moving on to NCAA DI Saint Cloud State.
Nolan Sawchuk will give the Tauros a pair of rookies on the Central Division Top Prospects roster. Sawchuk lead the Tauros with a +26 rating and has posted 4 goals and 23 assists from the back end. Sawchuk’s +/- rating is third best among all NAHL defensemen and his 27 points are eighth among blueliners.
Lucas Murray is in his second season with the Tauros and has posted a 17-8-3 record thanks to a 2.85 GAA and .903 SV%. Murray’s 17 wins and 1,644 minutes played are both fourth in the league. Murray becomes the third Minotauros goaltender to make the all-star event joining Atte Tolvanen and Tyler Parks, both of whom went on to play NCAA DI hockey.
Tauros Head Coach and General Manager Marty Murray was selected to be the Head Coach of Team Central. Team Central will play at 1:00 p.m. on February 27th against Team Midwest and then take on Team South on February 28th at 2:00 p.m.