![Minot Minotauros](https://www.oursportscentral.com/graphics/teams/resized/nahl_minot_minotauros19-200.png)
Weekend Recap 1-27-24
January 28, 2024 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Minot Minotauros News Release
By Andrew Lennox for minotauroshockey.com. MINOT, ND - The Minot Minotauros entered the weekend leading the NAHL's Central Division by a wide margin. However, they faced a setback in their last game, losing 5-2 to the Aberdeen Wings. The Tauros were at risk of consecutive losses for the first time this season as they hosted the struggling Austin Bruins.
On Friday, Austin Salani got the Bruins on the board first with a power-play goal at 17:44 of the first frame. Gustav Noren and Ocean Wallace provided the assists. The Bruins took their 1-0 lead into the first intermission, outshooting the Tauros 8-4.
In the second period, Austin scored again with a long shot from the point redirected past Tauros netminder Brady James, making it 2-0. Noren was credited with the goal at the 6:32 mark. Minot managed to cut the lead in half late in the period when defenseman Colby Woogk blasted a seeing-eye wrist shot that Will Dawson deflected to beat Bruins goalie Trent Weimken. Chad Muller collected the secondary assist.
Entering the third period, Minot found themselves down by two goals again as Bruins' Austin Laurenza tallied his 13th goal to make it 3-1. Wallace and Connor Brust added the assists. Midway through the final frame, the Tauros capitalized on their fifth power play of the contest. Muller scored, sitting on the doorstep, collecting his 11th goal of the season. Lehtinen and Jockims were credited with the assists. However, it wasn't enough as Austin dropped Minot 3-2 for their second consecutive loss.
Saturday presented a different story, with the Tauros striking first midway through the first thanks to Nick Sewecke's fantastic finish, netting his ninth goal in this year's campaign with assists from Dawson and Weston Knox.
Minot took charge of the contest in the second period after Bruins' Will Diamond was assessed a five-minute major and a game misconduct for head contact, getting tangled up with Muller. The Tauros dominated the extra-long power play, scoring three goals credited to Muller, Jack O'Hanisian, and Trevor Stachowiak.
After a robust second frame, Minot added one more tally in regulation. Ethan Bear was responsible for the marker, beating Bruins goalie Nick Kurtiak blocker side with a wrist shot for his fifth goal this season.
In a one-sided special teams affair, the Tauros earned the 5-0 victory over the Bruins, securing a weekend series split. James was impressive between the pipes on Saturday, collecting his fourth shutout and 16th win.
Up next, the Tauros head to St. Cloud to take on the Norsemen. Then, Rylan Jockims, Niklas Ketonen, Joel Lehtinen, Trevor Stachowiak, and Head Coach Cody Campbell will head to Pittsburgh, PA, to attend the NAHL Top Prospects Tournament. Following Top Prospects, the Tauros will face off against the Bismarck Bobcats in a home-and-home series that kicks off in Minot on Friday, February 9th, and then shifts to Bismarck the next night.
• Discuss this story on the North American Hockey League message board...
North American Hockey League Stories from January 28, 2024
- Sutton's Hat Trick Powers Warriors Past Jackalopes - Oklahoma Warriors
- Wings Move to Third in Division After Home Sweep of North Iowa - Aberdeen Wings
- Norsemen Fall in Overtime Thriller to Bismarck on Saturday - St. Cloud Norsemen
- 3rd Period Surge Sends Steel Past Wilderness - Minnesota Wilderness
- Jacks' Comeback Effort Falls Just Short as They Lose to Warriors 5-4 - Odessa Jackalopes
- Titans Defeated by Maryland 6-3 - New Jersey Titans
- The Wolverines Have Done It Again - Another Series SWEPT - Anchorage Wolverines
- Goich Stellar in Net as Bugs Grind Past Rhinos in Shootout & Earn Series Sweep - Shreveport Mudbugs
- Weekend Recap 1-27-24 - Minot Minotauros
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
Other Recent Minot Minotauros Stories
- 2024/25 Pre-Season Schedule Announced
- 2024/25 NAHL Showcase Schedule Announced
- Minot vs St. Cloud Series Rebranded to "The Great River Rivalry" Presented by Great River Federal Credit Union
- Tauros Add Seven in '24 NAHL Draft
- Four Tauros Honored During NAHL Awards
![Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew](https://www.oursportscentral.com/graphics/sc_400w_tag.png)
![OurSports Central](https://www.oursportscentral.com/assets/img/footer-logo-latest.png)