By: Ken Oda, minotauroshockey.com
Minot, ND – As the Minotauros seventh season draws near it is time to start meeting the players heading to Minot for training camp. Camp opens September 3rd and the pre-season opens on September 9th against the Bismarck Bobcats at the Maysa Arena. We continue meeting the team with forward Taylor Lantz.
Lantz tendered with the Tauros last season after skating two games as an Affiliate Player for the Austin Bruins. In two games in black and yellow Lantz had two assists against the Bismarck Bobcats. Aside from the Bruins Lantz spent the last four seasons with Greenway High School in Minnesota. In 112 games in high school Lantz posted 175 points on 74 goals and 101 assists.
Lantz described himself as, “a small creative shifty player that likes to pass. I try to play like Johnny Gaudreau.” Tauros Head Coach and General Manager Marty Murray brought the comparison a little closer to home comparing him to a former Tauro turned St. Cloud State Huskie, “I don’t want to put too much pressure on him but he reminds me of Blake Lizotte.” Murray expanded on the comparison saying, “Taylor will have an immediate impact with our club this year. His hockey sense is off the charts and he does things on the ice that you can’t teach. I think he’ll help our PP immediately, and will be a tremendous distributor of the puck.” Tauros Assistant General Manager Chris Lonke explained that Lantz, “has special vision and can make plays others can’t see. He has a really good feel for the game.”
Skill aside another reason for the Lantz comparison to Lizotte is size. At 5’8” and 165 lbs. Lantz looks small among this group of Tauros which is the biggest yet, but Lantz is still bigger than Lizotte was at 5’7” and 140. Despite his lack of size Lizotte set a high bar for small forwards in Minot with 52 points in his first and only season as a Tauro. If Lantz can match that the Tauros coaches and fans will be very happy.
Come back tomorrow when we will meet goalie Samu Lonkila. Do not miss your chance to see Lantz and all of the Tauros in game action for the first time September 9th at 7:35 at the Maysa Arena when the Bismarck Bobcats come to Minot to open the pre-season. Tickets will be $5.00 at the door and season ticket holders get in for free.