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Minot native Colby Enns drafted by USHL’s Flying Aces

Alex Eisen/MDN Minotauros defenseman Colby Enns in an NAHL game played earlier this season.

Minot High School to Minot Minotauros, the next stop for Minot native Colby Enns is Illinois.

With the fourth overall pick in the 2018 United States Hockey League (USHL) Phase II draft, Enns was drafted Tuesday to the Central Illinois Flying Aces.

“I haven’t really let it sink in yet,” Enns said after the Minotauros’ practice on Tuesday. “I’ve been just focusing on this. I got to focus on the task at hand here.”

The Minotauros are in Robertson Cup semifinals for the first time in franchise history.

Enns, a 6-foot-1 right-handed defenseman, has become a mainstay on the first defensive pairing with assistant captain Nolan Sawchuk in his first full season with the team.

He joined the Minotauros briefly last year after putting up 34 points in 27 games in his junior season with Minot High. In 79 games with the Tauros, Enns has racked up 20 assists and 11 goals (four of which have been game-winning goals).

“It’s not a surprise, we knew Colby (Enns) would get drafted,” Minotauros coach Marty Murray said. “A pretty big deal, credit to him and he has had a very good year. Starting with the (NAHL) Showcase back in September, he created a lot of buzz for himself. It’s good for our program, good for Minot High School and good for the Minot Hockey Boosters to see a young kid go through the stages of getting to a high level.”

The USHL is a tier above the Minotauros in the North American Hockey League (NAHL). It’s considered the top junior ice hockey league in the United States and features 17 teams.

The Flying Aces were founded in 2014 as the Bloomington Thunder before receiving a rebranding in 2017. They had the worst record in the USHL this past season (14-39-7).

The Fargo Force and Youngstown Phantoms are battling for 2018 Clark Cup — awarded to the USHL’s playoff championship winner — starting this Friday in Fargo.

Minotauros forward Ondrej Pavel was drafted by the Force in the 10th round.

Alex Eisen covers Minot High School, Minot State athletics and high school sports. Follow him on Twitter @AEisen13.

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