Tauros drop season opener 5-3
BLAINE, Minn. - The Minot Minotauros opened their second North American Hockey League season with a 5-3 loss against the Janesville (Wis.) Jets on Wednesday in the league's 10th annual Showcase Tournament at the Schwan Super Rink.
Minot trailed by a goal following each of the first two periods. The Tauros picked up 11 penalties and the Jets converted on three power plays.
"I thought the first period we played pretty well," Minot coach Marty Murray said. "We really took the momentum to them in the second period and we decided to take a bunch of penalties."
Minot's Cody Milligan was ejected following a kneeing major.
"We tried to explain to them (the penalties) absolutely killed the momentum we worked so hard for the second period," Murray said.
Murray was pleased with the team's offense, which saw goals from newcomers Lucas Oliver and Ryan Doner. Returning player Denis Dalidovich also scored.
"(Doner) was on a 5-on-3 and he had a great one-timer put right under the bar," Murray said. "Hopefully he can continue to have success here in the showcase."
The Tauros try for their first win at 1:15 this afternoon against Jamestown (N.Y.). The Ironmen fell 3-1 to Bismarck on Wednesday.
- Daily News Staff
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Minot resident, 4 others to be enshrined
David Rochholz, a retired wrestling official from Minot, was named to the North Dakota Officials Association Hall of Fame class of 2012-13.
Rochholz officiated for 37 years (22 in North Dakota), which included 13 state wrestling tournaments in North Dakota.
He was raised in Iowa and finished high school in Kansas before wrestling for Fort Hays State University - an NCAA Division II school in Kansas.
"It's pretty humbling," said Rochholz, the director of the Human Performance department at Minot State University. "It's also thrilling. It's hard to describe. I feel very fortunate to be recognized with this honor."
Rochholz especially enjoyed officiating state tournaments and duals between Minot High and Bishop Ryan. His favorite moment was raising his son Eric's hand.
"Just having him come out there and raise his hand, that was thrilling for me," Rochholz said.
Rochholz stopped officiating Minot High matches when his son joined the team, but was asked to fill in on short notice when another official was unable to make the dual. Eric earned a forfeit, prompting the father-son moment on the mat.
Rochholz officiated 19 NAIA national tournaments, one junior college national event and three national dual meets with teams from NCAA and NAIA divisions.
He retired from officiating last year. Rochholz moved to North Dakota in 1987 to be a professor at MSU.
David Johnson (Minnewaukan), Kim Anderson (Dickinson), David Wegner (Williston), and Bill Mitchell (Fargo) join Rochholz as members of the class.
- Daily News Staff