Meet the Tauros: David Raisanen

Sep 14, 2017

By: Ken Oda, minotauroshockey.com

Minot, ND – As the Minotauros seventh season draws near it is time to start meeting the players who hope to head to the NAHL Showcase after training camp.  Camp opened September 3rd and the pre-season continues tomorrow against the Fargo Force in Fargo at 1:30 p.m. We continue meeting the team with rookie forward David Raisanen.

Raisanen’s story may be the most unique of training camp.  After taking last season off from hockey and attending the University of Minnesota the, “itch to play competitive hockey” would not go away.  So Raisanen decided to get back in the game.  That journey has brought him to Minot because as he described, “I have heard and experienced nothing but good things with the program. It is a great place to develop and also fight for a championship.”

As for his play on the ice Raisanen “takes pride in playing solid in all areas of the ice,” and it shows as he is tied with Ondrej Pavel for the team lead in goals for the preseason with two.  Tauros Head Coach and General Manager Marty Murray has been impressed with Raisanen to this point, “I thought overall in the two exhibition games, he was arguably our best player.”

Raisanen’s scoring touch should not come as a surprise he posted 120 points in 74 high school games on 63 goals and 57 assists for Litchfield/Dassel-Cokato High School in Minnesota.  Over his three season’s he never averaged less than a point-per-game and finished his senior season in 2015-16 with 64 points in 25 games.  The 1998 birth-year forward still has two seasons of junior eligibility.

Murray addressed the Raisanen’s off year as well, “David possesses a nice combination of size and skill who protects the puck very well. To me, it’s remarkable how well he’s done thus far in camp considering he didn’t play competitive hockey last year”  Murray continued, “I think he’s got better every day and after hearing his story, you can’t help but root for him.”

Come back tomorrow when we will meet goaltender Jack Robbel.  Do not miss your chance to see Raisanen and all of the Tauros in game action for Sunday afternoon at 3:00 at the Maysa Arena when the Fargo Force come to Minot to close the pre-season.  Tickets will be FREE at the door!