Minot, ND – The Minotauros have made a series of moves to bolster the roster for the second half of the season, adding four players this week; forwards Jay Buchholz, Ethan Schmunk, Brett Roloson, and defenseman Ross Roloson. To make room on the roster, long time Tauro Joseph Harguindeguy was traded to the Wichita Falls Warriors for future assets.
Buchholz returns to the Tauros after starting the season with the USHL’s Sioux Falls Stampede where he posted two goals and four assists through 15 games. Last season of course Buchholz centered the Tauros’ top line posting eight goals and 33 assists through 47 games. Buchholz said he is “excited to be a Tauro again, I am just glad everyone in Minot is welcoming me back with open arms.” He added “my goals for the rest of the season are to just finish the rest of my junior career off strong and make a run for the Robertson Cup!”
Schmunk spent the last two plus season in the BCHL with the Powell River Kings. In 116 games he has posted 25 goals and 29 assists, including 30 of those points in 49 games last season. With the BCHL season still not yet started the 21 year-old forward said Minot became an attractive option because, “the coaching staff made Minot very attractive to me and I believe it’s the best place for me to secure an NCAA Division 1 scholarship and win a championship.” Schmunk say’s he “plays a hard two-way game” that he tries to “model after Jonathan Toews.”
Brett and Ross Roloson are the sons of former NHL All-Star goaltender Dwayne Roloson. Brett, the older of the two brothers is a forward who posted 13 goals and 13 assists in 33 games playing with Schmunk last season for the Powel River Kings. The 20 year-old forward is already committed to Lake Superior State University. Brett says he likes to play a “playmaking style” of game and is looking forward to “actually be able to play a hockey game,” after joining the Tauros from the BCHL which has yet to start it’s season.
Ross Roloson describes himself as a “two way defender” that likes “to join the rush offensively but also likes to play a shutdown role.” Like his brother Ross is looking forward to getting to play “a hockey games after a 10 month wait.” While the younger Roloson was held off the scoresheet in five appearances for the AJHL’s Spruce Grove Saints last season he did post four goals and 30 assists in 35 games of U18. The 2003 birth-year defenseman has three full seasons of junior eligibility after this one.
You can see the new Tauros in action for the first time January 15th and 16th against the Kenai River Brown Bears on the Pepsi Rink at Maysa Arena. Tickets are available now through the “Tickets” tab atop this page or by clicking here.