Ryan Ladika/MDN Senior forward Sam Bessette takes a wrist shot during the first period of Minot's Thursday night contest against the Beulah/Hazen North Stars.

There was a little something for everyone at Minot High School’s Thursday night hockey game against the Beulah-Hazen North Stars. In an emotional pregame Seniors Night ceremony, the program honored its 14 elders with thunderous applause echoing across Maysa Arena from parents and students alike. The student section was decked out in jerseys of each’s favorite professional or college sports team as part of a ‘Jersey Night’ spirit night.

Following the festivities, the Magicians asserted their dominance over the winless North Stars from the opening puck drop. The first period may as well have been played on a table at a 45-degree angle on the visitors’ end. Minot peppered Beulah-Hazen’s goaltender with shots, leading 5-0 in the category after the first two minutes and two seconds had elapsed.

The Magicians’ Caelton Eslinger unleashed the first shot that would find the back of the net. The sophomore forward received a perfect assist from Zachary Diehl from behind the net and flicked the puck right past the unsuspecting North Stars’ netminder. Casey Fjeld aided on the scoring chance as well, breaking back onto the point sheet after seeing his three-game scoring streak snapped in Minot’s last contest January 5.

The Magi’s tally would be the lone score of the first frame, but the period wasn’t as close as the 1-0 score would have you believe. Minot registered 20 shots on net to the North Stars’ seven.

The second stanza saw more of the same, the Magicians simply toying with the visitors. A penalty committed by the North Stars’ Landen Sayler ignited the rally for Minot’s second goal. A rebound off a long shot attempt from the between the circles by Gabriel Thongphet was finished by Sam Bessette. Minot had doubled its advantage three minutes and 47 seconds into the frame.

The Magicians added a third with just over five minutes remaining on the clock. A one-timer from Aiden Morelli was blocked away, and directly to the waiting stick of Casey Fjeld who quickly converted on the chance to put Minot ahead 3-0. He would also later score a goal of his own to extend his

Senior Riley Opperude also assisted on the Magi’s third goal, giving him his ninth point of the season and extending his team lead in the category. The defenseman has recorded at least one point all but one of Minot’s games this season.

The Magicians headed to the locker room in complete control, holding a 3-0 lead and the advantage in shots 40-11. The North Stars simply had no answers for Minot, as the Magi would later add six more goals from Opperude, Benn Bonebrake, Ben Svangstu, a pair from Dawson Knudson, and one more from Carson Bergrude. Not to be lost in the action, Magi netminder Tre’ Sortland turned away all 13 shots he faced to finish off the rout.