NAHL: Tauros restructure front office, promote Tyler Ebner to head coach

Just a few days from their weekend exhibition series in Watford City with rival Bismarck dubbed the “War in Watford,” the Minot Minotauros announced a major shakeup within their front office on Tuesday, Sept. 2.

Former head coach Cody Campbell, who served as both head coach and general manager, will now solely focus on general manager duties, while Tyler Ebner will take over as Minot’s newest head coach. Ebner joined the Tauros as an assistant under Campbell in 2023 after serving as an assistant coach with Fredonia State, a Division III program in Upstate New York. Ebner – who becomes the fifth head coach in program history – played college hockey at Gustavus Adolphus (Minn.) and two years in the NAHL with the former Coulee Region Chill.

“It is an honor and a privilege to be named the head coach of the Minot Minotauros,” Ebner said in a press release. “Minot has been a top organization in the NAHL for a long time, and I’m excited for his opportunity to further the organization’s commitment to excellence and emphasis on NCAA Division I commitments. I’m extremely grateful to both Cody Campbell and Brad Porter for their continued belief in my ability to help prepare our players for future success both on the ice and in the community.”

Campbell would have been entering his fifth season at the helm, but instead will focus his attention on roster construction and player advancement at the next level.

“The landscape of hockey at the junior level has changed massively in the last 10 months,” Campbell said in a press release. “We felt separating the head coach and general manager roles was imperative to our players and our organization’s long-term success. I am excited to continue to use my network to help facilitate opportunities for our players to advance to higher levels, while also focusing on constructing and evaluating our roster to make sure we are set up to compete for a championship in the current and future seasons.”

Ebner will make his NAHL regular season coaching debut on Friday, Sept. 19, when the Tauros host North Iowa at Pepsi Rink at Maysa Arena.

Prep Football: Minot North remains top team in Class AA, Fargo Davies new No. 1 in Class AAA

Minot North received 17 of a possible 19 first-place votes and maintained the top spot in the Class AA state media poll released on Tuesday, Sept. 2. The Sentinels received 92 points in the latest poll following a convincing 41-0 victory at Williston to open their season.

Kindred received the remaining two first-place votes and sit at No. 2 for the second straight week after knocking off Devils Lake 42-14. Central Cass moved up a spot to No. 3 and Grand Forks Central entered the poll at No. 4 following its victory over St. Mary’s, which was the lone team to drop out of the top five. Grand Forks Red River remained in the top five despite dropping its season opener, falling two spots to No. 5. Jamestown, Fargo South and St. Mary’s also received votes in the poll.

While there wasn’t much movement in the Class AA poll, there were plenty of rises and falls in the Class AAA poll following a chaotic start to the season that saw many ranked teams fall. Fargo Davies is the new No. 1 following a convincing 42-14 victory over then-No. 5 Minot High. The Eagles jumped up one spot and received 18 first-place votes following West Fargo Sheyenne’s loss to Bismarck Legacy.

Legacy made the biggest jump following its upset victory over the then-top ranked Mustangs, climbing all the way to No. 2 after being unranked the week prior. The Sabers received the only other first-place vote. Bismarck High moved up one spot to No. 3 and have now been ranked for 13 straight weeks. Fargo Shanley cracked the top five at No. 4, and Sheyenne dropped four spots to No. 5. Minot and Bismarck Century dropped out of the rankings, but did receive votes along with West Fargo Horace.

Girls Golf: Sentinels, Majettes place 2nd and 3rd at Dickinson Invite

Minot High had its best showing of the season at the Dickinson Invite at Heart River Golf Course, finishing third overall with a team score of 362 on Tuesday, Sept. 2. Prior to the event, the Majettes best showing was a trio of sixth-place finishes.

Sophomore Kenadee Burud shot the low round of the day for the Majettes, carding an 85 to finish tied for eighth alongside Minot North sophomore Katelyn Bast, Jamestown’s Mylee Michel and Bismarck Legacy’s Peyton Kalanek. Minot’s Taylor Deslauriers (89) and senior Katie Thomas (91) also placed in the top 20 individually.

The Sentinels added a fourth second-place finish to their resume this season with a team score of 340. Minot North finished eight strokes behind champion Mandan, which captured its fifth tournament title of the year.

Minot North seniors Kinzy Welstad and Emersyn Kopp both finished in the top five, shooting an 81 and 82, respectively. Welstad and Kopp both had two birdies in their rounds.

Mandan’s Isabella Hale ran away with medalist honors, finishing seven strokes clear of the field with a 74. Hale finished with two birdies and 12 pars, never being more than two strokes over par throughout her round.

Williston’s Kali Larsen (82) and Bismarck St. Mary’s Lola Huber (82) rounded out the top five individual scores.

The Coyotes and Saints both shot 366 as a team to finish tied for fifth.

The Sentinels welcome a field of 12 teams to their home invite on Monday, Sept. 8, at Souris Valley Golf Course beginning at 10 a.m.

Boys Tennis: Minot North’s upset bid falls just short against Mandan

Minot North took three of four singles matches, but Mandan swept all three doubles matches to eke out a 4-3 victory against the Sentinels in a non-conference match on Tuesday, Sept. 2

Brayden Callahan. Parker Vigestad and Lucas Griffith all won their singles matches, but the Braves dominated doubles with a trio of straight set victories. Mandan won 36 of the 41 games during doubles play. Jared Christen and Brandon Johnson at No. 1 doubles and DeKlan Wollschlager and Ben Slayer at No. 2 doubles each won their matches 6-0, 6-1.

The Sentinels (1-6) nearly swept all four singles matches, but Minot North’s Colton Grifith fell just short against Matt Christen in a pair of close sets, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (3). Vigestad and Lucas Griffith won their matches at No. 3 and No. 4 singles in straight sets, while Callahan outlasted Lucas DeRosier in three sets at No. 2 singles, 6-1, 6-7 (5), 6-3.

Minot North takes on Minot High on Thursday, Sept. 4, at 4 p.m.

Prep Volleyball: Majettes open West Region play with sweep of Mandan

Kynsli Gillman led the way with 12 kills, 14 digs and three blocks as Minot High posted a straight-set victory over Mandan, 26-24, 25-20, 25-12, in its conference opener on Tuesday, Sept. 2.

Brooke Bedell chipped in 10 kills of her own and Mackenzie Dufner filled out the stat sheet with 33 assists, three kills, six digs and two aces. Minot finished with 39 total kills.

The Majettes (3-4 overall, 1-0 West Region) had six blocks and seven aces as they wore down the Braves (1-6, 0-1) more and more after each set.

Minot High is coming off a BPS Crossover tournament in which it finished 2-4. Mandan was 1-5 in the tournament.

The Majettes play their home opener against Bismarck Legacy on Thursday, Sept. 4, at 7 p.m.

Boys Soccer: Minot North shuts out Dickinson

Minot North controlled possession and used a goal in each half to get past Dickinson, 2-0, on Tuesday, Sept. 2, to move into a three-way tie for third place in the West Region standings.

The Sentinels held a 21-3 advantage in shots on goal, burying a pair of chances. Malachi Baldwin got Minot North on the board in the 28th minute with the assist coming off the leg of Gavin Wald.

Minot North (3-4-1 overall, 3-2-1 West Region) added an insurance goal in the final minutes as Jayden Marshall added a second tally in the 75th minute. Moses Conteh was credited with the assist.

Paxtyn Paulson did all he could for the Mavericks (0-6-0, 0-6-0), making 19 saves. Griffin Wald needed to make just three saves to earn the shutout for the Sentinels. All three of Minot North’s victories have come at home.

The Sentinels travel to play Bismarck Century on Thursday, Sept. 4, at 5:30 p.m.