by: Ken Oda, minotauroshockey.com
For the second season in a row the Minotauros head to Wenatchee, WA to take on the Wild. Last season’s western swing saw the Tauros split with the Wild before heading south to Frenso, CA; this time the Tauros will only play a pair in Wenatchee before returning home. Both teams are 2-3 in regulations but the Wild won their lone shootout of the season while the Tauros lost theirs leaving the clubs 3-3-0 and 2-3-1 respectively.
While Bliss Littler remains on the bench in Wenatchee it is a very different club than last season’s Robertson Cup runner-up. Last season’s version of the Wild relocated to Hildago, TX, and are now known as the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees. Meanwhile with the Wentachee market vacated the Frenso Monsters stepped in, after they had initially planned to cease operations. On the ice, it is a whole new roster for Littler. Parker Tuomie leads the Wild in scoring with four goals and two assists. In net Chase Perry and Mackenzie Sawyer have split time with Perry (.938 SV% , 1.96 GAA) out-performing Sawyer (.911 SV%, 2.69 GAA).
The Tauros have been lead by two men who have been in Minot since the start; Tim Donohue and Jadin Martin each have three goals. Scott Dornbrock leads the Tauros blue-liners with a goal and three assists. Dornbrock’s four point have him tied with forwards Jake McCann and Jack Forbort who each have two goals and two assists for third on the Tauros in scoring. Between the pipes Brandon Wildung (.912 SV%, 2.76 GAA) had carried the load at the Showcase but the Tauros have since acquired Merrick Madsen (.900 SV% and 2.00 GAA). Madsen won his first appearance last weekend as the duo split time each getting one game.
After going 3-1-0 at the Showcase the Wild dropped a pair in Bismarck last weekend, while the Tauros split with Showcase champions Austin. Both games get going at 9:05 p.m. CST and can be seen on Fasthockey.com. The Tauros return home next weekend October 11th and 12th to host the Aberdeen Wings at 7:35 p.m. Tickets are available by clicking the “tickets” tab atop this page. Tickets printed at home not only help you avoid the lines on game night but also now come with a $1.00 off coupon for Spicy Pie.