By Sean Williams, www.minotauroshockey.com
St. Cloud, Minn. – After getting through a weekend with a split against their in-state rival, the Minot Minotauros (31-11-1) are making their final regular season trip to St. Cloud this weekend, while still holding their first place spot in the Central Division with 63 points on the season. On the other end of the ice is the home team in the St. Cloud Norsemen (19-13-11), who currently sit in fourth place with a four-point edge as they keep fighting for a playoff spot.
While both teams bring forth a similar record with five wins in their last 10 games, the season series between these division foes has weighed heavily on the Minotauros side, as they have compiled a 6-2-0 record against the Norsemen this year. In those eight games, the Tauros are averaging 4.0 goals per game and allowing 2.37 goals per game. In 43 games this year, Minot has scored 146 goals and allowed 94 to lead the Central Division in both categories, while the Norsemen have scored 117 goals and allowed 120.
Both penalty-kill units have posted strong numbers this year, with the Tauros owning a 88% penalty-kill percentage (PK%) and the Norsemen owning a 86% PK%. Even though they have had more opportunities to do so, Minot has been able to convert more on the power play by posting a 19% power-play conversion (PP%) and 37 power-goals, compared to St. Cloud’s 12% PP% and 21 power-play goals.
If the Minotauros are to continue their success against the Norsemen, they will look to ride the three-headed monster of Jack O’Hanisain, Niklas Ketonen, and Joel Lehtinen who have all terrorized the Norsemen this year. O’Hanisain has 12 points (5 goals, 7 assists); and Ketonen (2 goals, 8 assists) and Lehtinen (3 goals, 7 assists) have 10 points each in 8 games against the Norsemen.
The Minotauros have also been able to utilize their depth against the Norsemen this year, as that continues to be a strong point of the team. In addition to those three, Trevor Stachowiak (7 points on one goal, 6 assists); Nicholas Sewecke (6 points on 2 goals, 4 assists); Weston Knox (6 points on 6 assists); Chad Muller (5 points on 2 goals, 3 assists); Will Dawson (5 points on 3 goals, 2 assists); and Colby Woogk (5 points on 3 goals, 2 assists) all have managed to come close to averaging a point per game against the Norsemen.
Another strong point of the team has been Brady James in net, who has also seen his fair share of success against St. Cloud. In five starts, James has stopped 112 of the 120 shots St. Cloud has thrown his way, and was able to pitch a shutout in one of those games. In 23 games, James has a 2.167 goals against average (GAA) and a 91% save percentage (SV%). Max Weilandt for St. Cloud has been a successful net minder as well, with a GAA of 2.111 and a 91% SV% in 21 games this year.
St. Cloud also brings scoring depth to the ice, as they have seven players with at least 20 points this season. Hagen Moe leads the team with 35 points (15 goals, 20 assists); followed by Tyler Dysart’s 32 points (15 goals, 17 assists); Michael Coleman’s 31 points (13 goals, 18 assists); Kyle Miller’s 26 points (6 goals, 20 assists); Luck Munoz’s 22 points (6 goals, 16 assists); Braden Panzer’s 22 points (10 goals, 12 assists); and Niklas Miller’s 21 points (6 goals, 15 assists).
With both teams looking to position themselves for a postseason run, it should be another entertaining weekend of hockey between these two. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday night.