Minot, ND – The Minot Minotauros are proud to announce the signing of Connor Kurth to a Tender Agreement for the 2020-2021 season. Kurth lead the NAPHL (North American Prospects Hockey League) U16 with 72 points in 21 games played on 32 goals and 40 assists while playing for the Gentry Galaxy. Kurth is committed to the NCAA DI University of Minnesota Golden Gophers and an affiliate player of the USHL’s Dubuque Fighting Saints.
As Kurth tells it (and as is the case with many Tauros and future Tauros) he was first approached by Minotauros Assistant General Manager Chris Lonke, “Chris Lonke reached out to me and we created a great relationship and the Tauros seemed like the right fit for me.” Lonke said he was wowed by Kurth’s game explaining, “Connor plays a strong power forward type game for how young he is. That’s probably why he is highly ranked Gopher recruit.” Kurth agrees, “I like to think of myself as a play making forward that will work in the dirty areas. I try to emulate Matthew Tkachuk.” At 5’11” and 190 pounds already it makes sense that the 16-year-old Kurth is able to battle in the “dirty areas.” While Kurth tries to play like Matthew Tkachuk, Lonke compared him to Tauro alum and current Bemidji State Beaver, “Connor gives you a little Alex Adams feel. He can finish a play like Alex did.”
Considering the numbers posted in the NAPHL and that he is already committed to a major NCAA DI program it is clear that Kurth has plenty of skill; Lonke believes there is a place for him in Minot before he heads up the ladder, “his ceiling is very high and we hope we can be a bridge if needed from U16 into Junior Hockey, Dubuque, and the University of Minnesota.” And while Lonke says, “Connor is very committed to being the best hockey player he can be!” Kurth had just one answer for his goals in Minot, “I would like to win a championship with the Tauros.”