An explosive final frame put the game away for the Minot High boys’ hockey team, and Noah Conklin impressed between the goalposts in the Magicians’ first win of the 2021-22 season Tuesday evening, an 8-1 victory on the road over the Bismarck Century Patriots.

The contest represented the first game action in over two weeks for the Magi following a 4-3 defeat at the hands of the Devils Lake Firebirds on home ice Nov. 22.

Century, the reigning west region champions by the tiniest of margins over Minot a year ago, similarly stumbled out of the gate this season, dropping both of its first two contests to West Fargo and Fargo Davies by a combined 9-3 score, including one shutout defeat.

The Patriots jumped onto the scoreboard first early in the opening 18 minutes of play, when a rebound chance allowed by Conklin off an Alek Fosland shot was cleaned up by Mason Riegel on the far side of the crease just 2:55 in.

Minot wasted little time evening the affairs, when Mackley Morelli received a feed from junior forward Brock Jones on his way into the Magi’s offensive zone.

The former outskated a pair of Patriots defenders on what soon became a breakaway chance in the low slot and chipped the puck over the right shoulder of Casey Odegaard, tying the game at one goal apiece on his second goal of the season and third point overall.

Zachary Diehl broke the tie just over one minute into the middle period, cashing in on his club’s first opportunity on the man advantage of the evening.

He received a pass from junior defenseman Jaxon Bradley on the far side and walked in toward the circle before unleashing a wrist shot that had eyes. The puck sailed past Odegaard to give the senior his first goal of the season and the Magi a 2-1 advantage. Bradley was credited with his second assist of the young season on the play as well.

Conklin held his own in the Minot crease through the first two periods, helping keep the Patriots out of the Magi’s net on six power play chances throughout the first two periods. Upon the conclusion of the first 36 minutes, Conklin had made 14 saves on 15 Patriots shots on goal.

Minot broke the game open in the third frame, finding the back of Century’s cage six more times. Brock Jones, Jantz Buckmeier, Jersey Abrahamson, Caelton Eslinger each earned a goal and Jayden Luck scored twice in the frame, recording his first two goals of the season, to seal the blowout win for Minot.

Conklin finished the evening with 17 saves on Century 18 shots while the combination of Odegaard and Luke Pengilly made 31 saves on 39 total Magicians’ tries.

Minot will have a quick turnaround before its next game, currently scheduled for Thursday evening on home ice against Mandan High School.

The Magicians boys’ and girls’ basketball teams were also in action on the road against Williston and Watford City, respectively, Tuesday evening. Results from both contests will be available in Thursday’s edition of the Minot Daily News.