Kari Gibb/MDN Minot High sophomore Maxim Hall stops a shot in the goal during the third period of play on Saturday, January 25, against the Fargo North Spartans to remain unbeaten for the season.

In an epic battle on the Maysa Arena ice, the Minot High boys hockey team needed third period defensive efforts to hold on for the 4-3 win over the Fargo North Spartans to remain unbeaten for the season.

The Magicians started the scoring in the first period with an even strength goal at the 3:11 mark by Cole Richeson. Jayce Lemon and Finlee Bentz had the assists for the 1-0 lead. Teegan Strand found the net at 12:20 on the even strength score for the 2-0 lead. Carter Coleman and Rylan Roteliuk were awarded the assists on the play.

Just over 30-seconds later, Strand found the net for his second goal of the first period with Coleman on the assist for the 4-0 lead. Mackley Morelli found the net at 13:54 for the third score of the first period for Minot High. The even strength goal made the score 4-0 with Easton Panesuk and Richeson on the assists.

Minot High outshot the Spartans 11-6 in the first period and had one penalty.

Fargo North scored goals at the 7:20, 12:28 and 15:04 marks of the second period. The Spartans had one penalty while the Magicians had four in the second period. Fargo North had 19 shots on goal compared to eight for the Magicians.

The second period the teams swapped momentum and scoring compared to the first period of play.

The third period of play had Minot High at 19 shots on goal while the Spartans had three. The defensive effort on the ice by the Magicians came in the hard hitting, physical battle to hold on for the win.

Devon Keller had 34 minutes in goal for Minot High, faced 22 shots and recorded 19 saves. Maxim Hall was in net for 17 minutes and faced six shots with all six recorded as saves for the Magicians win.

With the win, Minot High improved to 12-0 in Western Dakota Association (WDA) play and 18-0 overall. The Magicians sit at first place in the WDA standings with Bismarck Century in second with a 9-2-1-0 WDA record and 12-3-2-0 overall mark and Jamestown in third with an 8-4-1-1 WDA and 10-4-1-1 overall mark.

Minot High travels to Mandan on Thursday, January 30, for their next WDA match and will host Bottineau-Rugby on February 4 as well as Williston on February 11 for their final games of the season.

The 2025 NDHSAA West Region Boys Hockey Tournament will take place February 20 thru February 22 at the Maysa Arena while the 2025 NDHSAA Boys Hockey State Tournament will be February 27 thru March 1 at the Ralph Engelstad Arena in Grand Forks.