Minot, ND – The Minot Minotauros are proud to announce that Hunter Longhi was named NAHL Forward of the Year and to the All NAHL 1st Team. Additionally Chase LaPinta was named to the NAHL All-Rookie Team and the All NAHL 2nd Team. Finally Tauro defenseman Weston Knox was named to the NAHL All-Rookie Team. The pair of Tauros forwards are the first Tauros ever to be named to All NAHL Teams and Longhi is the first Tauro ever to earn Forward of the Year honors. (Full NAHL 2022-23 Awards)
Longhi, acquired last offseason via trade, led the Tauros with 71 points and 49 assists on the season. Both numbers set new franchise records by wide margins. The previous single season points record was 55 points set by Miroslav Mucha in the 2017-18 season; the assist record was 38 set by former NAHL Rookie of the Year Blake Lizotte during the 2014-15 campaign.
LaPinta also rewrote the franchise record books joining Mucha as just the second Tauro to post 30 goals in a season with an NAHL leading 34 goals this year. LaPinta’s 56 points on the season would have been a new franchise record but for Longhi’s performance.
Knox, while not as prolific of a scorer as Longhi and LaPinta was fourth overall in goals by a rookie defenseman. His +12 rating was 7th among first year blueliners and his 22 total points was sixth despite missing 13 games in the middle of the season.
Tauros Head Coach/G.M. Cody Campbell believes all three were worthy of recognition; “we want to congratulate Hunter, Chase, and Weston on their league honors. Those three guys all had fantastic years for us. It’s great to see them recognized for their play over the course of the season. Their consistency, work ethic and competitiveness was very evident all season long and they are each very deserving of these honors.”
For more Tauros news and notes throughout the offseason stay tuned to gotauros.com and the Tauros socials for updates.