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Minot High hockey falls to Demons, 4-1

Ashton Gerard/MDN Mason Diehl (24), a junior forward for the Magi, takes a swing at goal while Bismarck High defender Kadin Sullivan (26) moves in Friday during the semifinal round of the west region tournament at Maysa Arena.

The Minot High hockey team saw Bismarck High for the fourth time this season as they faced the Demons Friday in the Western Dakota Association regional semifinal for a chance to play for the west region championship title. The past three times the Magi and Demons have faced-off, the Demons came out victorious.

The Magi (12-10-1, 10-5-0 WDA) couldn’t help but repeat history as they fell 4-1 to the Demons.

No goals were scored during the first period, though the teams weren’t shy about getting physical.

“It seems like it’s a rivalry kind of thing,” Minot High co-head coach Jason Bennett said. “Every time we play each other, there’s a lot of penalties on each side.”

Bismarck High saw two penalties in the first period, while Minot High saw three. Minot’s Mason Diehl earned two consecutive penalties at 6 minutes and 55 seconds into the first period for tripping and hooking, while Logan Braaten saw a penalty at 13:06 for roughing.

Bismarck High scored the first goal of the game at 3:02 into the second period. The goal sparked a fire in the Magicians. Minot High’s Patrick Heide was called for cross checking at 3:59, leaving the Magicians short-handed. This did not matter, however, as they were able to take the puck to the net.

The Magicians only goal was scored short-handed by Kyler Stenberg, assisted by Tatum Hertz, at 5:09 into the second period.

While the teams went into the third period tied, the hopes of a WDA championship fight didn’t last long for the Magi.

Bismarck High was able to score three more goals in the third period, while Minot was able to send two more guys to the penalty box. Kyler Stenberg was called for unsportsmanlike conduct along with Bismarck’s Dain Sardelli at 12:04. Minot’s Hertz was then called for tripping at 13:40.

“I don’t know,” Bennett said when asked what happened. “I don’t know if we ran out of gas or what. (Bismarck High) cranked it up to another level.”

Left picking up the pieces, Minot High will go on to face Dickinson today at 1:30 p.m. for a chance to compete at state. Minot High had bested Dickinson in both of their games so far this season.

“Our goal going into the season was to qualify for the state tournament,” Bennett said. “We have that opportunity tomorrow and there’s a lot at stake.”

Follow the Minot Daily Sports on Twitter @MDN_Sports.

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