The Minot girls hockey team is going to look a bit different when it takes the ice for its first game of the regular season at Williston on Tuesday, Nov. 25, officially beginning the Minot United era.

Despite all the changes, there is one thing that will remain a constant in the Minot United locker room this year and well into the future: the culture. That culture has allowed Minot United to be a constant presence at the state tournament regardless of the roster construction and experience level.

“One thing we always lean on is our culture and what we’ve built throughout the years and the leadership we’ve got through the team,” Minot United co-head coach Chris Stokke said. “We work every day to make each other better. We don’t care who’s putting the puck in the net. We know every day is going to present its own challenges and we’re ready for it. We take those challenges head on.”

Minot United came within a double-overtime goal of advancing to the state title game for the first time last year dating back to the 2002-03 season. As the No. 6 seed, it upset No. 3 seed Bismarck Century in the quarterfinal round before falling in double-overtime to West Fargo United.

Submitted Photo Minot United senior forward Yvonne Slind was second on the team in scoring last year with 20 points (12 goals, eight assists). The team finished fourth at the state tournament. Photo provided by Minot United girls hockey team.

“We got a hungry bunch coming back,” Stokke said. “Last season didn’t end the way we wanted it to, but last season is last season and we’re hungry right now. We’re chomping at the bit to get going on Tuesday.”

Minot United lost seven seniors to graduation, including all-state defender Sydnee Bartsch. Not only did she lead a defensive unit that limited opponents to 2.27 goals per game, but she also contributed on the offensive end, registering 15 points on seven goals and eight assists. Bartsch is one of four departed defenders that Minot United had to replace in the offseason. As part of that team culture, girls were willing to step up, even if they had limited or no experience playing as a defender.

“We’ve had some girls step up into some unique opportunities, especially on the defensive side,” Stokke said. “We have girls chomping at the bit to maybe play a new position, which we have a couple girls doing that, too. They just want to get on the ice and find a way to help the team in any way possible and that goes for a couple girls where this is their first season playing defense. They don’t care. They just want to do whatever they can to get on the ice and help their team win.”

Minot United has six defenders listed on the roster: senior Ayla Jackson, junior MaKenna Duvall, sophomores Brielle Brentrup and Isabel Knudson and freshmen Reya Berube and Alta Diedrichsen.

“That was probably one of our biggest losses from the graduating seniors is we don’t have a lot of D, but that’s just a testament to our team that there are a number of girls who are stepping into that position,” Minot United senior forward Brynn Hanson said. “They are all taking it in stride and taking it well and if you come ready to listen and are coachable, it won’t take them long to adjust.”

Minot United loses one all-star player, but returns another in Hanson. The senior forward was named all-state as a junior and also was named to the all-state tournament team. She netted two goals and two assists in three games at the state tournament last season.

Hanson led Minot United in scoring with 46 points (29 goals, 17 assists). She finished third in the state in both points and goals and fifth in assists. She is one of four seniors and among the top-two scorers on the team returning from last season. The other is senior forward Yvonne Slind, who tallied 20 points (12 goals, 8 assists) a year ago.

Hanson has experienced the highest of highs and the lowest of lows during her time with the program. She has been part of two teams that have won a state quarterfinal game – something the program has only done five times – and she has also been part of the only team to not qualify for the state tournament. Despite last year’s season ending in a double-overtime heartbreaker, it doesn’t linger in the back of her mind.

“Honestly, I was proud. In my high school career, being able to go to state and win the first-round game – Minot’s only done that five times – being able to be a part of two of those was unreal,” Hanson said. “After losing two big parts of our team the year prior and coming out and still winning that first round, I was so excited about that.”

Stokke said Hanson and Slind will be relied on early in the season as some of the younger players get adjusted to their new positions while others get used to the speed at the varsity level.

“Brynnne and Yvonne provide something to the team you can’t really match,” Stokke said. “They bring an intensity to the game on the ice, off the ice, good senior leadership they have added to our team now for a number of years. We’re going to rely on them heavily early for sure. They do things the right way. They play the game the right way. They prepare the right way. They have a good mindset that I’m hopeful they can really lead some of these younger girls and show them the ropes, especially early on.”

Hanson and Slind co-pilot an offense that averaged 2.46 goals per game last season. Julia Stoner is the third-leading scorer amongst returners. As a freshman, Stoner registered 12 points on three goals and nine assists.

Minot United graduated its third- and fourth-leading scorers, and also one of its two goalies. Promesa Phelps appeared in 15 games between the pipes for Minot United, sporting a 2.19 goals against average and a .906 save percentage, recording two shutouts. Sophomore Faith Seekings will serve as the No. 1 goaltender this season after splitting time with Phelps last year. During her freshman campaign, Seekings went 8-3 with a 2.15 goals against average and a .915 save percentage with a shutout.

Freshman Abbigail Ingerson joins the team to serve as Minot United’s second goaltender on the roster.

“Faith comes back with lots of game experience from last year,” Stokke said. “She played somewhere around half of our games last year and then we have an incoming freshman goalie Abbigail Ingerson, who’s there to push that duo along.”

Despite advancing to the state semifinals last season and returning its two leading scorers, Minot United was picked eighth in the coaches preseason poll, behind Fargo Davies and in front of Dickinson. Fargo North/South received six of the 12 first-place votes and were voted No. 1, while defending champion Legacy/Bismarck garnered five first-place votes and came in at No. 2. Bismarck Century, Grand Forks and Mandan rounded out the top five. Fargo Davies at No. 7 received the other first-place vote.

“You look at the parity in the state,” Stokke said. “Anyone on any given night can beat anybody. It’s not something we’re too concerned about. We know our product on the ice and if that’s what other teams think, then that’s what other teams think.”

Minot United will look to prove itself to the rest of the state beginning with Tuesday’s game at Williston, which will also be the debut of the new uniforms and new name, which was shown off to the team for the first time on Saturday. As a Des Lacs-Burlington student who has played under the Minot Majettes name up to this point, Hanson said she looks forward to the change.

“I’m from DL-B, so I’ve never had my school represented, so getting some new gear and a new look is exciting,” Hanson said. “Every one on our team is excited to have this new change and still go out with the same girls and have a great mindset. Hockey is such a fun sport, so we’re all excited for the first game.”