The college hockey season is underway and 26 Tauros alums are playing NCAA DI hockey. In total the group has suited up for 73 games, posted 15 goals and 19 assists for 34 points. Six Tauros have also moved on the professional ranks, five of whom have completed their college careers and Samu Lonkila who went straight from taking the Tauros to last year’s Robertson Cup Championship game to the professional ranks in his native Finland.
Statistically the most successful Tauro has been Johnny Walker at Arizona State where he’s posted four goals and four assists in just six games played. His teammates at ASU Jake Clifford also has a goal and an assist to go with a +3 rating. The St. Cloud State Tauros are also all performing well Blake Lizotte has a goal and three assists through four games, Jacob Benson has two goals and an assist, and defenseman Jon Lizotte has an assist along with an “A” on the front of his jersey.
Speaking of former Tauros wearing letters on the front of their sweaters, Mason Morelli has been named Captain of the University of Nebraska-Omaha team where he as two goals and two assists through four games played.
Michael Louria has a goal and two assits through four games from Robert Morris. James LaDouce has a goal and an assist for Alaska-Fairbanks, as do Reid Stefanson (UMass-Lowell) and Tyler Jeanson (Colgate) for their schools to round out the Tauros Alum with multiple points on the young season.
Jared Brant picked up his first goal after sitting out last season for transferring from Miami University to Niagara University. After recovering from a knee injury Christian Mohs picked up his first college point for Miami with an assist. Alex Adams, Grant Loven, Matt Jennings, Miroslav Mucha, and Jake Rosenbaum have all already made their college debuts as freshmen for Bemidji State, Northern Michigan, Ohio State, Lake State, and Minnesota-Duluth.
Aside from college hockey six Tauros have moved on to the professional ranks. Merrick Madsen had a shutout in his first professional game last Saturday a 1-0 victory for the Norfolk Admirals of the ECHL. Tyler Parks in his third pro season has dropped his first two starts for Rapid City in the ECHL, while Brandon Wildung (Utah) and Scott Dornbrock (Reading) await their first ECHL action of the season.
Over in Scandinavia Samu Lonkila has appeared in eight games for Tu To in the Jr. A SM–Liiga posting a 3.13 GAA. Max Pernham having finished his four years at NCAA DIII Augsburg has appeared in nine games this season for Morrums GolS in the Swedish HockeyEttan DI.
For updates on Tauros alum and all Tauros news stay tuned to minotauroshockey.com!