Minot, ND – The game Minot hockey fans have been begging for for five years is finally here. The Minotauros and the Minot State Beavers will meet on the ice for a good cause, 100% of the proceeds from the game tonight will go to help fund the Maysa Expansion.
The game does not come at an ideal time for the Tauros who play their fourth game in seven nights and have a big weekend home-and-home series with the rival Bismarck Bobcats starting at the Maysa on Friday. The Tauros and Bobcats are tied for first in the NAHL Central Division and are expected to battle for the top spot through the end of the regular season in April. For the ACHA top ranked Beavers the game is a chance to get ready for the second half of the season. The Beavers started skating again over the weekend and head eighth ranked Iowa State to start the second half this weekend.
Both teams feature three players with at least 10 goals on the season. Jeremy Johnson leads the pack with 18 goals for the Beavers. Brett McNevin and Lyndon Lipinski each have 10 goals for Minot State. For the Tauros Johnny Walker has tallied 15 times on the season while Austin Martinsen and Jack Murphy have each added 10 markers. Brett Nespor leads the Beavers with 14 assists and Christian Mohs has a team best 16 for the Tauros. In net Connor Beauchamp has played 14 of the Beavers 19 games going 13-0-0 on the season posting a 2.02 GAA and .922 SV%. The Lucas Murray (2.56GAA .899SV%) and Jon Flakne (2.62GAA .900SV%) have split time.
The game tonight is a fundraiser to help fund the Tauros and Beavers new home, the Maysa Arena’s third sheet of ice. Construction is already underway on the facility but funding has not yet hit the 100% mark. Aside from donating 100% of the revenue from tickets, beer, and merchandise sales from tonight’s game there will also be a silent auction of special memorabilia including Tauros jerseys signed by Minot native Josh Duhamel and his wife chart topping singer/songwriter Fergie. There will also be jerseys signed by each team, and special sticks signed by the captains, coaches, and the games top players.