by: Ken Oda, minotauroshockey.com
Andover, MN – On the heels of their most successful season yet the Minotauros start the process of reloading for the 2015-16 campaign with their Trinity Health Pre-Draft Camp this weekend. Five players from last year’s Tauros roster were drafted last June, Mitch Snyder (1st round), Luke Davison (5th round), John Snodgrass (6th round), Quinn Fuchs (9th round), and perhaps the steal of the draft Jake Dittel (13th round). Aside from players taken in the draft three other Tauros who attended the pre-draft camp last summer as free agents were brought in and played large rolls right away; Tanner Holmes, Max Mettler, and NAHL Rookie of the Year Blake Lizotte.
The Tauros pick 15th overall this year after posting the 8th best record in the NAHL at 37-17-6. Each team picks until their protected list is at 30 players, so we will not know how many picks the Tauros (or any team) will have until protected lists are finalized. Tauros’ Head Coach and G.M. has also never shied away from trading draft picks to acquire talent. The Tauros have made big moves each of the last two drafts most recently acquiring leading playoff scorer Nick Monfils.
This year’s Trinity Health Pre-Draft Camp begins Thursday with practice sessions for each team. Games then start Friday morning, and are full 60 minute stop time games. On each of the game days there will be a special goalie session as well. The Tauros are one of the only teams to both hold practices and play real games at their camps. Teams at this year’s Trinity Health Pre-Draft Camp are named for recent Tauros NCAA DI commits: Merrick Madsen (Harvard), Brandon Wildung (Mercyhurst), Scott Dornbrock (Miami), Michael Louria (U-Mass Lowell), Atte Tolvanen (Western Michigan), and Jon Lizotte (St. Cloud State).
The schedule for the camp is below, we will not be posting stats or results from the camp to social media. Rosters for the all-star game on Sunday will be posted late Saturday night. The NAHL Draft will be held June 9th at 1:00 p.m. CST.
Thursday May 28
3:00-4:00 PM Registration at ANDOVER YMCA Community Center
4:30-5:45 PM Madsen/Wildung Practice
6:00-7:15 PM Lizotte/ DornbrockPractice
7:30-8:45 PM Louria/ Tolvanen Practice
Friday May 29
8:00-9:30 AM Madsen/ Lizotte
9:45-11:15AM Wildung / Louria
11:30 AM-1:00 PM Tolvanen / Dornbrock
2:00 Goalies
3:45 PM Wildung vs Lizotte
6:00 PM Madsen vs Tolvanen
8:15 PM Louria vs Dornbrock
Saturday May 30
8:00-9:30 AM Wildung / Tolvanen
9:45- 11:15 AM Louria / Lizotte
11:30 AM-1:00 PM Dornbrock / Madsen
2:00 PM Goalies
3:45 PM Lizotte vs Tolvanen
6:00 PM Louria vs Madsen
8:15 PM Dornbrock vs Wildung
11:00 PM All Star Rosters posted on Team Website
Sunday May 31
9:00-10:00 AM Coaches available to meet with players that did not make All Star Game
10:00 AM-12:00 PM All Star Game
12:15 PM Exit Meetings with Players from All Star Game