St. Cloud, MN – The Minotauros wrapped up perhaps the toughest part of their schedule with a weekend sweep at the hands of the St. Cloud Norsemen. The sweep gave the Tauros their third and fourth losses in a row and capped off a stretch of nine of ten games on the road. The Tauros ultimately went 3-6-1 over that stretch with one of those three wins coming in their lone home game during that time.
The Tauros scored first on Friday night when Chase LaPinta scored his eighth of the season, but held the lead for just 1:10 of play before the Norsemen drew even. The Tauros would not lead again on the weekend.
The Norsemen rattled off the next three goals as well building a 4-1 lead that lasted until the final minute of the second when Ben Johnson scored on a delayed penalty to pull the Tauros within 4-2 and give some hope going into the third. The Tauros however could not draw any closer until the final minutes when already on a power play Noah Rupprecht was pulled for an extra attacker. Jack O’Hanisain was able to net his fourth of the season on the resulting six-on-four advantage but 4-3 was as close as the Tauros would get.
Saturday night the Norsemen jumped on the Tauros right from the hop scoring on the game’s first shift. A power play goal late in the period would put the Tauros in a 2-0 hole going into the middle frame. LaPinta would cut it to 2-1 with his second of the weekend but the Norsemen answered with two more before the end of the second to take a commanding 4-1 lead into the third. A late empty netter would push the final to 5-1 and give the Tauros their first four game pointless streak of the season.
Next up the Tauros return to North Dakota for the next seven weeks. Friday is the Tauros annual SCHEELS of Minot Teddy Bear Toss game, last season Tauros fans set a new record with 972 donated to local not for profits. Additionally the Tauros Virtual Teddy Bear Toss returns for the second season allowing fans to support local Minot charitable causes and provide a chance for fans who might not otherwise be able to participate in the Teddy Bear Toss game to join in the fun.