Minot, ND – The Minot Minotauros and Minot State University Beavers have shared a home but never before had they met on the ice. That all changed Tuesday night when the two teams met to raise funds for the Maysa Expansion. The Tauros took the game by a 6-3 margin but the real winner was the Minot hockey community as $27,971.25 was raised to help complete the third sheet.
The game opened with a pair of quick goals as Lyndon Lipinski and Troy Degler each scored to have the game tied 1-1 just three minutes in. After that the teams settled in and the first period ended a 1-1 draw. 2:51 into the second period James LaDouce ripped a shot from the top of the umbrella with the Tauros on the power play. That score would hold until the third period when the Tauros broke the game open Austin Martinsen, Chase Springman, and Johnny Walker scored in the first seven minutes of the final frame to take a 5-1 lead. Goals in the final five minutes by Austin Yano and Reece Forman drew the Beavers within two, but with Connor Beauchamp pulled for the extra attacker Springman got his second of the night for the Tauros to cap the scoring at 6-3 Tauros. Beauchamp made 53 saves in taking the loss, the Tauros’ Lucas Murray made 30 saves in the win.
Next up for the Tauros is a home-and-home set with the Bismarck Bobcats that starts at the Maysa Arena on Friday night before finishing in Bismarck on Saturday night. Tickets for the Friday night’s game are still available under the “Tickets” tab atop this page.
Thank Yous: A big thank you to everyone who stepped up to make this game possible. The Hess Corporation for sponsoring the event and donating the new ice resurfacer to the arena. Duffy's Hockey and Sports, NW Tire, and Josh Duhamel and Fergie, for donating items to the silent auction. The Minot Police Officers Matt Mcleod and Cole Strandemo and Minot Air Force Base for donating security staff for the game. Brandon Schmitt, Mike Eslinger, Kevin Wilk, and Andy Carton for volunteering to officiating the game. And last but not least the Minotauros volunteer game day staff and off ice officials for working an extra game.