Minot, ND – The Minotauros return to home ice for the first time in a month, having spent the last three weekends on the road, to host the Bismarck Bobcats tonight before heading to Bismarck on Saturday. The Tauros have been streaky since the start of the December winning five games in a row, dropping eight, winning five more, and now losing their last six. The Bobcats meanwhile have been rolling since mid-December, after a 5-8-2 start the Cats have gone 15-3-3 since.
Tauros captain Jack Westlund has led the Tauros against the Cats posting three goals and three helpers through eight meetings so far. Jay Buchholz has posted four goals in the last four games, while Ethan Schmunk has three and Tyler Kostelecky has two over that span; none of whom were on the Tauros the last time they faced the Bobcats. Keenan Rancier has played all eight games against the Cats this year posting a .914 SV% and 3.20 GAA.
For the Cats George Grannis has been the driver of the offense against the Tauros with four goals and three helpers through the eight prior meetings. Tim Piechowski has been red hot of late with three goals and four assists in the previous four games. Cameron Korpi has dominated the Tauros including shutting them out in the last two meetings, but he is no longer with the team getting called up by the USNTDP U17 team. Ian Shane has taken the last three games for the Cats and has seven appearances overall since joining the Cats posting a 2.12 GAA and .926 SV%.
Tickets for Friday’s game are available through the “Tickets” tab atop this page or by clicking here. With a relaxing of the ND Smart Restart Guidelines as North Dakota has moved into the Green Low Risk, 2020-21 Flex Tickets will once again be accepted.