For Our Next Trick

Jan 22, 2015

By: Ken Oda, minotauroshockey.com

Minot, ND – The Minotauros are without a doubt the best road team in the NAHL, with a 17-2-1 record away from the Maysa this season including an NAHL modern era record 15 consecutive road wins, a streak that is still running.  Now with the Magicians in the Tauros need to find a way to bring that road magic to the Maysa Arena, where the Tauros are a middle of the road 9-7-3.  The Tauros won both meetings with the Magicians in Minnesota in early November by scores of 6-3 and 5-2.

Sam Becker (2g 26a) leads the Magicians with 28 points, leading goal scorer Lukas Laub (14g 13a) is second on the club with 27 points.  Matt Colford (6g 11a) lead the Magicians against the Tauros with a goal and two assists but was recently traded to Corpus Christi for Connor  Bucsis (7g 6a) who has a goal in two games since joining Minnesota.  In net Vaughan Ahrens (6-4-0 3.37gaa .903sv%) is the only goaltender currently listed as active, he has not faced the Tauros this season.

For the Tauros goaltender Atte Tolvanen (20-8-3 1.94gaa .923sv%) became the first Tauro keeper to reach the 20 win plateau, and he is in line to break every meaningful goaltending record for the Tauros.  This is especially impressive given that the Tauros have become a goaltending factory in their short history sending the last four goaltenders to NCAA DI programs and two from the teams first season to NCAA DIII schools.  Tolvanen started and won both games against his former team when the Tauros played the Magicians in Minnesota. 

On offense the line Blake Lizotte (11g 32a), Christian Mohs (12g 29a), and Johnny Walker (15g 12a) continue to lead the way.  Chase Springman (9g 14a) has four assists against the Magicians to lead the Tauros in points against this weekend’s opponent, and Jake Howie’s (8g 8a) three goals lead in that category.  James Mathias (9g 10a), Colton Kramer (5g 5a), and Nick Monfils (8g 8a) have found some chemistry since joining each other on a line with four goals and nine assists over the last five games. 

This weekend marks the last home game for the month of January before a road heavy month of February.  The Tauros will not return home until February 14th for their first of just three home games next month.  Fans coming on Friday night should bring their skates for a post game skate and autograph session brought to you by SRT Communications.  Tickets for this weekend’s games are available by clicking the “Tickets” tab atop this page, buy and print your tickets at home to avoid game day lines and save $1 off of your next order from the Spicy Pie in Minot.