×

Improbable rally comes up short for Magi hockey

Alex Eisen/MDN Bismarck High sophomore forward Nicholas Mortenson (11) sets himself up to score the Demons' fifth goal Thursday evening against Minot High at Maysa Arena.

While misdirection fooled the Magicians, it was nearly the great escape that stole the show.

The Minot High School boys hockey team fell victim to three first-period goals scored off deflections but rallied dramatically in the third period to catch the Bismarck High Demons off guard. Despite Minot almost erasing a five-goal deficit, the West Region-leading Demons moved to 12-1-0 overall (9-0-0 WDA) with a 7-5 victory over the Magi (4-8-0, 3-6-0 WDA) Thursday evening at Maysa Arena.

“This was a good character builder,” MHS co-head coach Jason Bennett said. “We haven’t seen the kids respond this year at all. And they did (tonight). Unfortunately, they didn’t get it done at the end. They had some chances, but the response in the second and third (periods) was much better.”

In arguably the worst start possible for the Magi, senior Kyler Stenberg was sent to the penalty box for slashing 12 seconds in and Bismarck scored the opening goal on the man advantage.

Alex Krug redirected a puck shot in from Dayton Deics to beat off-balanced Magi senior goaltender Odin Nelson.

Using the same formula that produced the first goal, Deics had another shot attempt redirected — this time by Caleb Petrie — to put the Demons up 2-0 through the first eight minutes.

As if two purposeful puck deflections weren’t enough to haunt the Magi, Minot then put the puck into its own net off an unintentionally deflection.

Skyler Strand, off a face-off draw, was credited with his first goal of the season. and Bismarck High happily took its 3-0 lead into the first intermission.

“It was puck luck,” Bennett said. “We didn’t put it on Odin (Nelson), any of those three weren’t his fault. We just pulled him for a momentum shift, just to try and get guys to respond. Unfortunately, he was the one that had to use for that. I thought he played well.”

Nelson was replaced by sophomore Tre’ Sortland in the second period.

Magi senior Jack Plemel and Bismarck High’s Petrie traded goals in the middle of the second period, 4-1.

The Demons matched the three goals they scored in the first period with two more goals from close range late in the second period by Nicholas Mortenson and Joey Heinert, 6-1.

“We played well in the second (period), I thought,” Bennett said. “We had five or six chances and they came down on rushes and scored. We turn the puck over, make a couple bad plays and they capitalize. They are a good team. So, the message (in the intermission) was we played well, but still lost the period, 3-1. It was much better in the third.”

Minot’s leading goal scorer Aiden Morelli buried his sixth and seventh goals of the season in the third period to ignite the comeback with under 12 minutes to play.

The first goal came on a 6-on-5 delayed penalty coming to Bismarck. Gabriel Thongphet and Payton Philion picked up the assists. Philion fed Morelli again for the second snipe a few minutes later.

“We got a goal here and got a goal there, and we got some confidence,” Bennett said.

Now, down three goals, the Magi’s last lifeline was a five-minute major kneeing penalty with 3:51 remaining — meaning Minot had a power play for the rest of regulation.

Philion nabbed the first power play goal with 2:45 remaining. Then, Casey Fjeld poached in another with 61 second remaining.

Petrie was then set off for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, giving the Magi a 6-on-3 advantage (with the goalie pulled) in the final minute.

What could have been a memorable comeback for the ages to force overtime was abruptly ended when Heinert netted an empty-net goal with six seconds left, 7-5. Minot managed to score three goals in seven minutes.

“I’d say, yeah, probably,” Bennett said when asked if that would have been one of the biggest comebacks he had ever seen. “It was 6-1 and there wasn’t much life in us. In between periods, we told them to get a quick one early and you never know… The kids worked hard until the end.”

Next up, the Magi are scheduled to brave the cold on Saturday in Jamestown for Hockey Day North Dakota.

With temperatures expected to be hovering around zero degrees, Minot will bundle up for an outdoor exhibition game at Allen Field against Bismarck Century. Puck drop is set for noon on Saturday.

“Brrr,” Bennett said. “It will be interesting. Once again, it’s what we need. We grew tonight and became a little tougher. Playing when it’s five below with the wind chill will toughen us up more. So, we are excited for it.”

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

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today