Sawchuk’s double OT goal lifts Tauros to first Central Cup

Minot Daily News 2019 North Dakota Newspaper Association: Sports Series (Part 5/8), Honorable Mention.

MINOT — With power and precision from the point, defenseman Nolan Sawchuk etched his name into Minot Minotauros’ folklore with a double overtime dagger that delivered the Minotauros their first-ever Central Division playoff championship. In front of a standing-room-only crowd of 2,300 inside Maysa Arena, which slowly declined as the night wore on Friday evening, the Minotauros outlasted the Austin Bruins, 2-1, in Game 3 to sweep the five-game series in the second round of the NAHL Robertson Cup Playoffs. The final two rounds of the postseason are held in Blaine, Minnesota, so the scattering of equipment across the Pepsi Rink ice symbolized the ecstatic conclusion of the Minotauros playing their final home game in Minot this season. “No words to describe this,” Sawchuk said. “The city and the organization deserve this. The fan base here is great and we couldn’t have done it without their support.”

The Minotauros came into the playoffs as the fourth and final seed out of the Central Division and have now won five straight postseason games to knock off the No. 1-seeded Aberdeen Wings and the No. 2-seeded Bruins. Any doubts from months ago that Minotauros wouldn’t even make the playoff have turned out to be rather foolish. “It hasn’t been easy for us,” Minotauros general manager and head coach Marty Murray said. “But, we have had a lot of fans stick with us from Day 1 when we weren’t a very good hockey team, so to be able to share this on home ice with them is a big deal for us.” In front of the home supporters, the Minotauros weren’t going to be denied their date with history. Sure, it took 81 minutes and 24 seconds, but the wait was well worth it. Especially when looking back at all the recent collapses the Minotauros have had in the first or second round of the NAHL playoffs over the previous five seasons. “Feels good to bring a championship to Minot,” Minotauros forward Keenan Lund said.

An evenly matched first period had the two teams locked in a scoreless stalemate. Both were unable to convert on power plays and the Tauros narrowly outshot the Bruins 10-8 in the opening frame. Minot’s Connor McGinnis had the best scoring chance early on after he stepped out of the penalty box with four minutes left in the first period. The puck was dug out of the corner and found McGinnis in stride going the other way. Having too much time to think about where he was going to place the puck, McGinnis shot it into the upper chest of Bruins goaltender Alex Schilling. The urgency to find the first goal intensified in the second period. Yet, Schilling nearly cost the Bruins a goal by misplaying the puck behind his net. Nonetheless, it was Austin that struck first a couple minutes later. A bouncing puck found the stick of Valdemar Ahlberg and caught Minot goaltender Samu Lonkila out of position. It was Lonkila’s only blemish, as he stopped 36 shots otherwise. Minot, regrouping in a hurry, only trailed for 20 seconds before Lund sniped the equalizer. He finished off a two-on-one breakaway by himself with a wrist shot that went clean past Schilling. “That was huge,” Murray said. “We talk about that all the time with goals for and against, we have to answer with the next shift.” Lund’s second goal of the postseason was assisted by Fritz Belisle and Minot native Colby Enns. “Fritz Belisle made a really good play in the neutral zone and got it to me for a two-on-one,” Lund said. “I just looked for a corner up top and I hit the shot.” Minot and Austin went into the third period deadlocked at a goal apiece. A premature goal horn for the Minotauros with three minutes remaining in regulation provided some false hope, but ironically was a precursor of what was to come. It also meant that 60 minutes weren’t enough to separate the two Central Division playoff foes. Twenty more minutes didn’t change that either, despite the Minotauros gradually getting closer and closer to finding that final goal. “It was a typical playoff game,” Murray said. “We talked between the overtime sessions that no shot is a bad shot.” Lund added: “I think we got stronger (as the game went on) and we used the energy from the crowd to really keep us going and keep our feet moving.” With the remaining crowd starting to get restless after the fourth intermission, the moment everyone had hoped for finally arrived. “It was a strong play behind the net by the forwards,” Sawchuk said. “Taylor (Lantz) won a battle and Al (Alex Adams) picked up the loose change and I tried to sneak in. (Adams) hit me with a good pass that was right in my wheelhouse.” Sawchuk then unleashed the series-winning goal. Pandemonium ensued. “I remember looking up at the fans and they were pumped up,” Sawchuk said. “Then, it was an awesome group hug.” The Minotauros get to hold onto that feeling for a couple more days, then the preparation begins for their first trip to the Robertson Cup National Championships at the Fogerty Arena in Blaine, Minnesota. The semifinals are a best-of-three series with games being played each day from May 11 to May 13. The Robertson Cup National Championship Game is Monday, May 14.