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Ryan Ladika / MDN Goalkeeper Carter Clafton makes a save during pre-game warm-ups ahead of the Minotauros’ March 19 game against the Aberdeen Wings. Crafton saved 20 of 21 shots in Wednesday night’s loss.
The Minot Minotauros had to wait 108 days after their heartbreaking 4-3 overtime loss to the Aberdeen Wings in Game 5 of the Robertson Cup Playoff Round 1 on May 30, but the offseason finally ended on Wednesday. evening with the start of the 2021-22 campaign in Blaine, Minnesota.
Minot started the new season with the first of four NAHL 2021 showcase games at the Schwann Super Rink, and emerged on the losing side in a 2-0 defensive fight against Lone Star Brahmas.
“I thought we were playing well, we made some mistakes early in the season, of course, which both teams did, so that makes up for a bit.” Minotauros new head coach Cody Campbell said after his coaching debut with the team. “I just wish we were a little hungrier when we get chances in the better scoring zones. I think if we are able to push a little harder the outcome of the game might change a bit.
The Minotauros’ revised roster for the 2020-21 season, according to the team’s official website, includes 20 players with a “rookie” designation, as well as two new goalies and a return following the departure of Keenan Rancier: Carter Clafton and rookies Zach Sandy and Thomas Kiesewetter.
Clafton, now in his second season with the Minotauros after recording a 3.34 goals-against average, 0.899 save percentage and a 12-game shutout last season, earned the green light in the first game of the season and performed well. Despite the lack of offensive support in front of him, the Grand Rapids, Minnesota native stopped 20 of 21 total shots that came to him.
The only goal he conceded came in the dying minute of the second period, when Artur Turansky threw a try at Clafton and Nicholas Niemo cleaned up the rebound from the right side of the open net before he and defender Minot Colby Woogk does pounce on the keeper.
Clafton quickly rocked the game and contributed a stellar third frame, repelling all four Brahmas shots he faced before Niemo scored his second score of the night in the empty Minotauros net with 13 seconds left.
“It’s a very good veteran presence there,” Campbell said of his goalie. “He slowed things down for us when they needed to be slowed down. It was good for Carter to have a good game. It was obviously not the result he wanted, but he played solid and it should be a very good step forward for him.
Minot’s most recent head coach and general manager has not made a commitment to Clafton as the Minotauros’ starting goalie, instead highlighting his desire to let Sandy and Kiesewetter prove themselves between the posts as well.
“We expect a lot from Carter”, He continued. “The guys will get what they make with us and our staff. If Carter has the chance to spend most of the time in goal, good for him, but we have two more good goalies here that he’s going to compete with.
The team also showed signs of offensive life throughout the game, although they ultimately couldn’t find the back of the net. Minot dominated the Brahmas in every frame and finished with a 30-22 advantage over his opponent in the category. The Minotauros just couldn’t solve the stingy goalie of Lone Star Graham Burke, who posted a .917 save percentage and 2.18 average in 37 games for the Brahmas last season.
“We just need to calm down a bit” Campbell said. “I think we were really excited for this hockey game, and we let that slip in when we had chances. I think the boys will be pretty hungry tomorrow and also a majority of them will have a game under their belt this season which will make things a little easier.
The Minotauros will have a quick turnaround for their next game, with a face-off scheduled for 11:15 a.m. Thursday morning against the Corpus Christi IceRays.
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