Kari Gibb/MDN Minotauros Ian Spencer (23) scores a goal in Game 2 against the Austin Bruins on Saturday, April 21, 2024 at the MAYSA Arena in Minot.

The Minot Minotauros started the 2024 NAHL playoffs with a best of five game series against the Bruins from Austin, Minnesota. The Minotauros are familiar with the Bruins as it was the team from Austin that sent the Minot home from the playoffs last season. Among the fans, revenge for the early end to the playoffs was buzzing in the bleachers.

“Last year was a whole different team and season,” said Minotauros head coach Cody Campbell. “This year’s team is focused on this year’s games and is not dwelling on the past.”

It was a good thing to dwell on the present as Minot ended the weekend with a 2-0 lead in the best of seven series to start the playoffs.

Minot 9, Austin 1

The initial game of the series got off to an early scoring start when Jordan Gibbs fed the puck to Niklas Ketonen at the 12:26 mark of the first period and just over three minutes later Ketonen was fed the puck again by Jack O’Hanisain and Joel Lehtinen to make the score 2-0 with nearly a full half of the initial period left.

Ian Spencer joined the scoring party at the 3:06 mark when John Small and Jordan Gibbs worked the puck to him for the third goal in period one. The fact that Colby Woogk was in the penalty box for high-sticking – and the Minotauros were on the weak side of the penalty period for the third goal – was indicative of the type of breakout game that was beginning.

In the second period, Spencer again was fed the puck by Colby Bear and Weston Knox for his second goal of the game at the 12:57 mark of play. This time, the Bruins were assessed a tripping penalty with Minot, up 3-0, and the Bruins had Will Diamond on the scoring end at the 11:31 mark with assists from Jackson Relei and Alex Laurenza.

It was at this stage in the game that the Bruins became very aggressive. The hostile nature of play resulted in four penalties in the third period – two tripping and two cross checking – in an effort to keep Minot in fights rather than skating and scoring.

“We are quite familiar with them [Bruins],” said Campbell. “It [fighting] tends to be their style. The players buckled down and focused on the game, on the task at hand.”

With the score at 4-1, Nicholas Sewecke scored at the 9:13 mark with passes from the Finns, Joel Lehtinen and Ketonen and added his second score at the 5:14 mark with assists from Woogk and O’Hanisain to give the Minotauros the 6-1 lead on power-play goals at the end of the second period.

In the third period, Trevor Stachowaik was on the receiving end of a pass from Sewecke for a short-handed goal to make the score 7-1 at the 9:59 mark. Cayden Casey then Ty James, in a power-play, added goals at the 8:37 and 8:02 marks respectively. Assists were by Weston Knox, Will Dawson, Pavol Funtek and Spencer.

In game one, goalie Brady James finished with 20 saves while the Minotauros outshot the Bruins 43-21 for the game. Austin ended the game with 10 penalties for 39 minutes while Minot tallied five for 10 minutes.

Minot 3, Austin 1

Game 2 started with a much more focused Bruins team. There was still some chippy play, with leftover frustration from game one, but hockey and skating were much more present with the score reflecting the adjustment.

Neither team scored despite the Minotauros outshooting the Bruins 12-6 in the first period. The Minotauros had Lukas Swedin in goal for the game, and he was awarded the top star award by the team for the saves in the game.

In the second period, at the 3:38 mark, Spencer was on the receiving end of a Woogk pass to put Minot up 1-0 going into the third period of play. Sewecke was fed the puck by Funtek and Knox for a goal at the 11:42 mark of the final period. Ketonen was able to break away after stealing the puck at the 1:02 mark when Austin had pulled their goalie in an attempt to tie the game. The empty net goal ensured the 3-1 win for the home team.

The Bruins did manage a goal at the 2:54 mark of the third period by John Hirschfeld who was assisted by Ocean Wallace and Austin Salani.

Minot outshot Austin 24-15 and both teams had four penalties for eight minutes of box time.

“We really are not looking ahead,” said Campbell. “As a team, we are focused on one game at a time. The guys played well and we are headed on the road healthy.”

The Minotauros head to Austin, Minn. for Game 3 on Friday, April 26. If necessary, the two teams will play Game 4 on Saturday, April 27.